Increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression predicts a worse prognosis for laryngeal cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor expression and the laryngeal cancer prognosis. Systematic computerised searches of PubMed were performed up to 31 January 2015. Prognostic endpoints were overall survival and disease-free survival. The pooled hazard ratios for overall survival and disease-free survival were also calculated. Seven studies containing 975 patients were included. The pooled hazard ratio was 1.703 (95 per cent confidence interval, 1.373 to 2.112; z score = 4.85, p = 0.000) for overall survival and was 1.918 (95 per cent confidence interval, 1.410 to 2.609; z score = 4.15, p = 0.000) for disease-free survival. No significant publication bias was found. A sensitivity analysis showed that the results were robust. Power analyses also showed there was enough power to detect the calculated hazard ratios. The study found that vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression predicted a worse prognosis for laryngeal cancer patients. This supports a strategy of targeted therapy by blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.