Prognostic value of ALDH1 expression in lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: ALDH1 has recently been reported as a marker of cancer stem-like cells in lung cancer. However, the predictive value of ALDH1 in lung cancer remains controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of ALDH1 expression with the clinicopathological features and outcomes of lung cancer patients through a meta-analysis. METHODS: Publications that assessed the clinical or prognostic significance of ALDH1 in lung cancer up to October 2014 were identified. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the association between ALDH1 expression and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Ten eligible publications with 1836 patients were included. The analysis of these data showed that ALDH1 expression was highly correlated with lymph node metastasis (pooled OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.04-2.02, P = 0.027), decreased overall survival (pooled RR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.15-4.41, P = 0.019), and decreased disease-free survival (pooled RR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.01-2.64, P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Patients with ALDH1-positive lung cancer had poor prognosis, which was associated with common clinicopathological poor prognostic factors.