ObjectiveTo systematically review the relationship between skin rashes and efficacy of cetuximab. MethodsSuch databases as PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2013), CBM, CNKI and VIP were systemically searched to collect literature on relationship between the severity of skin rashes and efficacy of cetuximab published up to Aug. 2013. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 32 studies involving 1 543 patients were included. The results of metaanalysis showed that:the efficacy of cetuximab in patients with skin rashes was significantly superior to patients without skin rashes (RR=1.53, 95%CI 1.23 to 1.91, P=0.000 2); in addition, the efficacy of cetuximab in patients with severe skin rashes was significantly superior to patients with mild skin rashes (RR=2.42, 95%CI 1.89 to 3.11, P<0.000 01). ConclusionSkin rashes are significantly associated with better efficacy of cetuximab.