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Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Jun 12;9(6):e99399.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099399. eCollection 2014.

Prognostic value of MET gene copy number and protein expression in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of published literatures

Baoping Guo  1 , Hong Cen  1 , Xiaohong Tan  1 , Wenjian Liu  1 , Qing Ke  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prognostic value of MET gene copy number and protein expression in patients with surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis of published literatures

Baoping Guo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The prognostic value of the copy number (GCN) and protein expression of the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) gene for survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. This study aims to comprehensively and quantitatively asses the suitability of MET GCN and protein expression to predict patients' survival.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched for articles comparing overall survival in patients with high MET GCN or protein expression with those with low level. Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random and the fixed-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed.

Results: Eighteen eligible studies enrolling 5,516 patients were identified. Pooled analyses revealed that high MET GCN or protein expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (GCN: HR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.35-2.68, p<0.001; protein expression: HR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.08-2.15, p = 0.017). In Asian populations (GCN: HR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.46-3.38, p<0.001; protein expression: HR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.34-2.68, p<0.001), but not in the non-Asian subset. For adenocarcinoma, high MET GCN or protein expression indicated decreased OS (GCN: HR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.05-2.10, p = 0.025; protein expression: HR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.31-2.19, p<0.001). Results were similar for multivariate analysis (GCN: HR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.15-2.25, p = 0.005; protein expression: HR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.60-2.97, p<0.001). The results of the sensitivity analysis were not materially altered and did not draw different conclusions.

Conclusions: Increased MET GCN or protein expression was significantly associated with poorer survival in patients with surgically resected NSCLC; this information could potentially further stratify patients in clinical treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow chart of the strategy used for the selection of reports used in our analysis.
MET, mesenchymal-epithelial transition; GCN, gene copy number.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Meta-analysis of effects of the MET gene copy number on overall survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Forest plot showing (A) the combined relative HR for OS by univariate analysis; (B) the combined relative HR for OS by multivariate analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Forest plot (A) assessing MET gene copy number in NSCLC stratified by histological subtypes; Forest plot (B) assessing MET gene copy number in NSCLC stratified by ethnic source.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Meta-analysis that according to different methods of MET detection used.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Meta-analysis of effects of the MET protein expression on overall survival of patients with NSCLC.
Forest plot showing (A) the combined relative HR for OS by univariate analysis; (B) the combined relative HR for OS by multivariate analysis.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Forest plot (A) assessing MET protein expression in NSCLC stratified by histological subtypes; Forest plot (B) assessing MET protein expression in NSCLC stratified by ethnic source.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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