Bcl-2 expression predicts sensitivity to chemotherapy in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: numerous studies have yielded inconclusive results regarding the relationship between anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 expression and the sensitivity to chemotherapy in the patients with breast cancer. the purpose of the current study was therefore to elaborate their relationship. methods,findings. a total of 23 previously published eligible studies involving 2,467 cases were identified and included in this meta-analysis. negative bcl-2 expression was associated with good chemotherapy response in breast cancer patients (total objective response [or]: risk ratio [rr] = 1.16,95% confidence interval [ci] = 1.02-1.32,p = 0.026; total complete response [cr]: rr = 1.67,95% ci = 1.24-2.24,p = 0.001; pathological cr: rr = 1.92,95% ci = 1.38-2.69,p < 0.001). in further stratified analyses,this association remained for sub-groups of response in neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting,especially pathological cr. besides,negative bcl-2 expression was significantly associated with good or and pathological cr in anthracycline-based chemotherapy subgroup. furthermore,there were significant links between negative bcl-2 expression and taxane-based chemotherapy with pathological cr,but not or. conclusion: the results of the present meta-analysis suggest that bcl-2 expression is a predictive factor for chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients. they could also potentially benefit further clinical treatment for breast cancers. © 2013 yang et al.; licensee biomed central ltd.