Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with head and neck cancer: A meta-analysis

Head Neck. 2013 Oct;35(10):1507-14. doi: 10.1002/hed.23156. Epub 2012 Sep 18.

Abstract

Background: The correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression and the clinical outcome of head and neck cancer remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of VEGF in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and 2 Chinese science databases in order to enroll all eligible articles. Forty-seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. All results were evaluated by the random-effects model.

Results: VEGF overexpression is significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR], 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.61-2.22) and progression-free survival (PFS; HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.33-2.12). Subgroup analysis reveals that VEGF overexpression is a significant poor predictor for nasopharyngeal cancer (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.30-2.12) and salivary gland cancer (HR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.61-6.84).

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis supports that VEGF overexpression is an available poor predictor for patients with head and neck cancer.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; meta-analysis; prognosis; survival; vascular endothelial growth factor.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A