PTEN expression is a prognostic marker for patients with non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a known tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, we determined the prognostic value of decreased PTEN expression in patients with NSCLC. We comprehensively and systematically searched through multiple online databases up to May 22, 2016 for NSCLC studies reporting on PTEN expression and patient survival outcome. Several criteria, including the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS), were used to discriminate between studies. In total, 23 eligible studies with a total of 2,505 NSCLC patients were included in our meta-analysis. Our results demonstrated that decreased expression of PTEN correlated with poor overall survival in NSCLC patients and was indicative of a poor prognosis for disease-free survival and progression-free survival in patients with NSCLC.