Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification in oral squamous cell carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence in relation to the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of EGFR gene amplification in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods A comprehensive search was undertaken in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus for studies published before June-2026. We evaluated the quality of primary-level studies using QUIPS tool, conducted meta-analyses, examined inter-study heterogeneity via subgroup analyses and meta-regressions, and performed small-study effects analyses. Results In total, fifteen primary-level studies (1,561 patients) met inclusion criteria. EGFR amplification was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.32–2.98, p = 0.001), disease-free survival (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.03–2.67, p = 0.04), N + status (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.08–2.77, p = 0.02) and advanced clinical stage (OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.08–2.94, p = 0.02). Subgroup meta-analyses also revealed significant associations among Asian subpopulations, patients with tongue tumors, and studies with a lower risk of bias. Conclusion Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated, based on the available evidence, that EGFR gene amplification may be useful as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO , identifier (CRD420261517568).