Prognostic value of soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: Previously published data was collected and a meta-analysis was conducted to precisely identify the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of soluble programmed cell death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials & methods: Combined hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the correlation between sPD-L1 expression and prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Results: A total of 11 studies with 976 patients were included in this meta-analysis. High levels of sPD-L1 were associated with poor overall and progression-free survival (HR: 2.65, 95% CI: 2.32-3.02; p < 0.001 vs HR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.24-3.29; p = 0.005). sPD-L1 level was not significantly correlated with sex, smoking status, age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, subtype or EGFR mutation. Conclusion: High levels of sPD-L1 are a prognostic marker for poor survival in patients with NSCLC.