Reduced E-Cadherin expression is a prognostic biomarker of non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis based on 2395 subjects

Objective: Previous studies related to the prognostic value of E-Cadherin expression on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were inconsistent. The present study aimed to evaluate the relation between E-Cadherin expression and the prognosis of NSCLC. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis based on 14 studies including 2395 NSCLC patients. Literature retrieval, data extraction, and meta-analyses were performed according to the Revman 5.0 guidelines. We utilized the fixed-effect model to pool the HR according to the test of heterogeneity in the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 14 eligible studies including 2395 NSCLC patients were analyzed. In total, 51.2% of the patients were considered as having reduced expression of E-Cadherin according to the authors' cutoff. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) of reduced expression of E-Cadherin for overall survival (OS) was 1.19 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.40, P=0.04), showing a worse survival when E-Cadherin expression is decreased. Conclusion: Patients with reduced expression of E-cadherin have a poorer OS compared with those with normal or high expression of E-cadherin.