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Correlation between carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression and EGFR mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the relationship between serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE and Google Scholar were systematically searched to identify studies assessing the association of serum CEA expression with EGFR mutations. Across 19 studies, 4168 patients were included between CEA expression and EGFR mutations odds ratio (OR) conjoint analysis of correlations.

Results

Compared with CEA-negative NSCLC, CEA-positive tumors had an increased EGFR mutation rate (OR = 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.48–2.32, P < 0.00001). This association was observed in both stage IIIB/IV patients (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.18–2.15, P = 0.002) and stage I–IIIA (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01–2.77, P = 0.05) patients. In addition, CEA expression was associated with exon 19 (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.25–3.11, P = 0.003) and exon 21 (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.07–2.12, P = 0.02) EGFR mutations. In ADC pathological type had also showed the correlation (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.31–2.57, P = 0.0004).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis indicated that serum CEA expression was associated with EGFR mutations in NSCLC patients. The results of this study suggest that CEA level may play a predictive role in the EGFR mutation status of NSCLC patients. Detecting serum CEA expression levels can give a good suggestion to those patients who are confused about whether to undergo EGFR mutation tests. Moreover, it may help better plan of the follow-up treatment.

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Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

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Author notes

  1. Tian Gan and Wenting An are contributed to the work equally and should be regarded as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No.169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei Province, China

    Tian Gan, Yun Long, Jingting Wang, Hanfei Zhang & Meiyan Liao

  2. Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang, China

    Wenting An

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  1. Tian Gan
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Contributions

TG: data extract, data analysis and manuscript drafting. WA: Study design, systematic search and article screening. YL: data extract and data analysis. JW: systematic search and article screening. HZ: Manuscript review and editing. ML: manuscript review and editing, supervison.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hanfei Zhang or Meiyan Liao.

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Ethics approval was waived because this study does not involve any human participants or animals.

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Gan, T., An, W., Long, Y. et al. Correlation between carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) expression and EGFR mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Clin Transl Oncol 26, 991–1000 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03339-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03339-7

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