Association of ERCC1-C118T and -C8092A polymorphisms with lung cancer risk and survival of advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy: A pooled analysis based on 39 reports

- C allele of ERCC1 C118T may decrease lung cancer risk.
- CC genotype of ERCC1 C118T may be beneficial to platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy.
- ERCC1 C8092A polymorphism plays insignificant role in lung cancer risk and survival.

The published data on the predictive role of ERCC1 polymorphisms in lung cancer risk and survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving platinum-based chemotherapy remains inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the role of ERCC1 gene polymorphisms (C118T and C8092A) in this clinical situation. Eligible studies were included and assessed for quality using multiple search strategies. Thirty-nine published papers involving 9615 cases (4606 with Stage III/IV disease) and 5542 controls were included in the analysis. Pooled odds ratios (OR) or hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate risk. ERCC1-C118T was associated with lung cancer risk. The OR was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81-0.99, p = 0.043) in an additive genetic model (C allele vs. T allele) and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.63-0.95, p = 0.013) in a recessive genetic model (CC/CT vs. TT). The corresponding risk was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.58-0.94, p = 0.013) based on a homozygous comparison (CC vs. TT). No significant correlation was found for ERCC1 C8092A and there was no obvious relationship between ERCC1 C118T/C8092A polymorphisms and objective response to platinum-based chemotherapy. Overall survival (OS) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving platinum-based chemotherapy was significantly related to ERCC1 C118T (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.07-1.56, p = 0.007, CT/TT vs. CC). There was no relationship between ERCC1 C8092A and survival (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 0.84-2.10, p = 0.23, CA/AA vs. CC). These findings suggest that ERCC1 C118T polymorphisms may serve as a biomarker for lung cancer risk and have prognostic value in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing platinum-based treatment. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects from a worldwide arena are needed to validate the associations.