title: Aberrant methylation of genes in sputum samples as diagnostic biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to comprehensively review the evidence for using sputum DNA to detect non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Chinese Biological Medicine (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Vip Databases and Google Scholar from 2003 to 2013. The meta-analysis was carried out using a random-effect model with sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odd ratios (DOR), summary receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves), area under the curve (AUC), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) as effect measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were twenty-two studies meeting the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. Combined sensitivity and specificity were 0.62 (95%CI: 0.59-0.65) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.70-0.75), respectively. The DOR was 10.3 (95%CI: 5.88-18.1) and the AUC was 0.78.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall accuracy of the test was currently not strong enough for the detection of NSCLC for clinical application. Discovery and evaluation of additional biomarkers with improved sensitivity and specificity from studies rated high quality deserve further attention.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China E-mail : hongsu20135151@163.com.
authors: Xu
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Ling
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Su
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Cheng
authors: Liu
authors: L
authors: Jin
mesh_terms: D019540:Area Under Curve; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor