title: Prognostic role of epidermal growth factor receptor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various studies have assessed the prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but their results remain controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies published up to January 2013 were collected. A total of 16 studies involving 1179 patients were reviewed. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the prognostic role of EGFR in patients with NPC. The combined hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using fixed-effects or random-effects models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGFR overexpression had significantly poor effect on overall survival (OS; HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.25-2.77), disease-free survival (DFS; HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.66-3.04) and locoregional control (HR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.71-5.02). However, the association between EGFR overexpression and distant metastasis-free survival was not statistically significant (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.72-2.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR overexpression can be a prognostic factor for patients with NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hubei, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Guoxian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Dongbo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guoqing
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor; meta-analysis; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; outcome; prognosis