The meta-analysis indicated that increased CXCL8 mRNA level was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage in NSCLC patients (pooled OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.13–2.05), especially in ADC patients (pooled OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.12–2.61) (Fig. 1d, e). Here, CXCL8 is linked to AIDS dementia complex.