ERCC1 as a prognostic factor for survival in patients with advanced urothelial cancer treated with platinum based chemotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The predictive role of excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1) as a predictive factor in patients with advanced urothelial cancer (AUC) treated with platinum-based treatment is not well defined. Here, we evaluate the role of ERCC1 in patients with AUC treated with platinum-based treatment.

Methods: We performed comprehensive, systematic computerized search to identify relevant studies through Medline, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) databases and abstracts from American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, European Society For Medical Oncology (ESMO) and European Association of Urology (EAU) meeting up to July 2015. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.

Results: We included a total of 1475 patients from 13 studies. We found that ERCC1 positivity was significantly associated with worse progression-free survival (pooled HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.13-2.11, p=0.006). There was no significant association with overall survival (pooled HR1.63, 95% CI: 0.93-2.88, p=0.09) and disease-free survival (pooled HR: 1.092, 95% CI: 0.63-1.90, p=0.75).

Conclusion: ERCC1 positivity might be a prognostic indicator for poorer survival outcomes among patients with AUC. ERCC1 positivity was trending to poorer OS but was statistically worse for PFS. Further large prospective studies are warranted as ERCC1 could be used as a predictive marker to direct treatment of patients with AUC.