The Impact of Chemotherapy on EGFR Mutation Status in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that chemotherapy for lung cancer may alter EGFR mutation status. However, whether chemotherapy as a firstline treatment may increase or reduce the frequency of EGFR mutations in NSCLC remains uncertain. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate whether chemotherapy leads to altered EGFR mutation status. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, OVID, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases for studies on pre- and post-chemotherapy EGFR mutation status. Relevant studies documenting perichemotherapy EGFR mutation ratios were included. Analyses of pooled odds ratios (OR) were performed. Results: Six studies involving 656 patients were included in this meta-analysis. It was found that chemotherapy may alter EGFR status (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.05 - 3.56; p Conclusions: Chemotherapy may contribute to altered EGFR status. NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations might need to be considered for EGFR status redeterminations prior to second-line EGFR-TKI treatment or upon tumor recurrence after chemotherapy. Further randomized clinical trials should investigate the impact of neoadjuvant or first-line chemotherapy on EGFR mutation status in NSCLC patients.