EGFR mutation testing in blood for guiding EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing in tumor tissue is now a common practice in selecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. However, tumor tissues are often absent or insufficient for the testing. Blood is a potential substitute providing a noninvasive, easily accessible and repeatedly measureable source of genotypic information. However which is the best blood EGFR mutation testing method remains unclear. We undertake this study to investigate the best blood EGFR mutation testing method for selecting EGFR TKI treatment in patients with NSCLC.

METHODS: This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017055263). PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and NIHR Health Technology Assessment program will be searched. Studies fulfill the following criteria will be eligible: (1) randomized controlled trials or cohort studies; (2) included patients with NSCLC; (3) reported response, progression-free survival, or overall survival for EGFR TKI by the EGFR mutation status in blood sample. Diagnostic accuracy of blood EGFR mutation tests for predicting response to TKI will be pooled. Tumor response, progression-free survival, and overall survival according to different blood EGFR mutation testing methods will be evaluated and compared.

RESULTS: Based published data and combined analysis, this study will quantitatively compare the blood EGFR mutation testing methods according to their accuracy for predicting treatment response and relationship with clinical outcome in NSCLC patients treated with EGFR TKIs.

CONCLUSION: This protocol will determine the best blood EGFR mutation testing method.