title: A meta-analysis for CXCR4 as a prognostic marker and potential drug target in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports have shown that C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a candidate oncogene in several types of human tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the correlation between CXCR4 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC remains controversial and has not been emphasized. The aim of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the association of CXCR4 expression with the incidence of NSCLC and clinicopathological characteristics by performing a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A detailed literature search was carried out for related research publications. Only articles in which CXCR4 expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining were included. Odds ratio (OR) and hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Final analysis of 1,872 NSCLC patients from 19 eligible studies was performed. We observed that CXCR4 expression was significantly higher in NSCLC than in normal lung tissue, based on the pooled OR from ten studies, including 678 NSCLCs and 189 normal lung tissues (OR =16.66, 95% CI =6.94-40.02, P<0.00001). CXCR4 expression was also significantly associated with clinical stages, metastatic status, and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. In addition, CXCR4 mRNA high expression was found to correlate with worse OS of all NSCLC patients followed for 20 years, HR =1.24, P=0.0047.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis indicated that CXCR4 protein expression is associated with an increased risk and worse survival in NSCLC patients. The aberrant CXCR4 protein and mRNA expression play an important role in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Changyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4
keywords: hazard ratio; meta-analysis; odds ratio; prognosis