BIM deletion polymorphism predicts poor response to EGFR-TKIs in nonsmall cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background: A germline deletion in BIM (B cell lymphoma-2-like 11) gene has been shown to impair the apoptotic response to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in vitro but its impact on response to EGFR-TKIs in patients of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. Methods: Eligible literature were searched and screened. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were extracted and aggregated with odds ratio (OR). Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted and aggregated based on random-effect model. Results: Fourteen studies including 2694 NSCLC patients were eligible. Individuals harboring BIM deletion polymorphism had inferior ORR (OR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.34-0.70, P < .001), while in the other subgroup, no significant difference was observed (HR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.79-1.06, P=.25). Conclusion: NSCLC patients with BIM deletion polymorphism show poor ORR, DCR, and OS after EGFR-TKIs treatment. BIM deletion polymorphism indicates poor response to EGFR-TKIs, and it could be used as a predictor to identify those who would benefit from EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patients.