Prognostic value of pretreatment modified Glasgow Prognostic Score in small cell lung cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of pretreatment modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients remains unclear now. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CNKI electronic databases were searched up to December 14, 2022. The primary and secondary outcomes were overall survival and progression-free survival, respectively. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to assess the association between pretreatment mGPS and survival of SCLC patients. Subgroup analysis based on the country, tumor stage, treatment and comparison of mGPS were further conducted and all statistical analyses were performed by STATA 15.0 software. RESULTS: A total of ten retrospective studies involving 2831 SCLC patients were included. The pooled results demonstrated that elevated pretreatment mGPS was significantly related to poorer overall survival (HR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.36–2.63, P < .001) and progression-free survival (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13–1.74, P = .002). Subgroup analysis stratified by the country, tumor stage, treatment and comparison of mGPS also showed similar results. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment mGPS was significantly associated with prognosis in SCLC and patients with elevated mGPS experienced obviously worse survival. Thus, pretreatment mGPS could serve as a novel and reliable prognostic indicator in SCLC patients.