C-Met as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
c-Met has been recognized as an important therapeutic target in gastric cancer, but the prognostic property of the c-Met status is still unclear. We aimed to characterize the prognostic effect of c-Met by systematic review and meta-analysis.


METHODS
We identified 15 studies assessing survival in gastric cancer by c-Met status. Effect measure of interest was hazard ratio (HR) for survival. Meta-regression was performed to estimate the relationship between HR and disease stage. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to account for heterogeneity.


RESULTS
15 eligible studies provided outcome data stratified by c-Met status in 2210 patients. Meta-analysis of the HRs indicated a significantly poorer Os in patients with high c-Met expression (average HR=2.112, 95%CI: 1.622-2.748). Subgroup analysis showed the prognostic effect of c-Met was identical in protein-level and gene-level based methodology. The same effect was also seen in Asian and Western ethnicity subgroup analysis. Meta-regression showed HR was not associated with disease stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with tumors that harbor high c-Met expression are more likely to have a worse Os, with this prognostic effect independent of disease stage. c-Met status should be evaluated in clinical prognosis.
Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Shan
S
Yu
Yiyi
Y
Yu
Naiqing
N
Zhao
Jianlan
J
Cui
Wei
W
Li
Tianshu
T
Liu
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met