Meta-analysis reveals no significant correlation between breast cancer survival and ErbB3 expression.
Prognostic value of ErbB3 in human breast cancer is still controversial. However, the roles of ErbB3 receptors in drug resistance are recently emerging. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ErbB3 expression and survival of breast cancer via meta-analysis. A systematic literature search was conducted and 32 potentially relevant studies were included in the meta-analysis. Outcomes presented in searched literatures can be classified as disease free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and progress free survival (PFS) values. Meta-analysis was performed for each group. Results showed no statistically significant difference in survival. The overall hazard ratio of PFS, DFS, and OS of ErbB3 expression was 1.40 [95% confidence interval/CI (0.51, 3.83)], 1.07 [95% CI (0.82, 1.40)], and 1.15 [95% CI (0.91, 1.44)], respectively. Subgroup analysis according to ErbB2 receptor status, ErbB3 assessment methods (immunohistochemistry/IHC vs non-IHC), and analysis type (multivariate and univariate analysis) were performed. No significant association was found. Using various assessment methods and patient populations, our results revealed that there was no significant correlation between ErbB3 expression and breast cancer survival. Further studies on heterodimers of ErbB3 and other molecular markers involved in ErbB3 related pathway are merited.
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Hyun Jung
HJ
Kim
Aeree
A
Kim
HyeongSik
H
Ahn
Il Min
IM
Ahn
Jinhyuk
J
Choi
Hyeyoon
H
Chang
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C581292:ERBB3 protein, human
ErbB3; breast cancer; meta-analysis; prognosis