Meta-analysis on Association of HER2-neu Expression with Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic significance of HER2-neu overexpression in gastric cancer. MethodsInvestigations between HER2-neu status and survival were identified by published studies.Pooled hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to evaluate the risk of disease. Results A total of 20 studies were analyzed by Meta-analysis method, including cumulative 4 398 cases.Pooling data from 16 studies of univariate analysis showed worse survival of patients with HER2-neu(+) (pooled HR=1.57, 95%CI 1.30～1.90),and maintained in 5 studies of multivariate analysis(pooled HR=1.30, 95%CI 1.09～1.52).The analysis for heterogeneity(Q statistic test) for 16 studies of univariate analysis showed they had heterogeneity(Q=27.48,P=0.025),but for 5 studies of multivariate analysis showed little heterogeneity(Q=4.03,P=0.401). Conclusion HER2-neu overexpression is a worse and independent parameter for overall survival of gastric cancer.