Prognostic value of low microRNA-34a expression in human gastrointestinal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Yan-Ling Chen,Xiao-Lin Liu,Ling Li

doi:10.1186/s12885-020-07751-y

Yan-Ling Chen, Xiao-Lin Liu + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-020-07751-y

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Abstract

BackgroundMounting evidence shows that microRNA-34a (miR-34a) is involved in cancer prognosis. Therefore, we summarize the predictive role of miR-34a for survival in patients with gastrointestinal cancers (GICs).MethodsAll eligible studies were found by searching PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE, and survival results were extracted. Then, the hazard ratio (HR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to evaluate the prognostic role of miR-34a in GICs. The association between miR-34a expression and clinicopathological characteristics was estimated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs.ResultsA total of 20 studies were included in this meta-analysis. For overall survival (OS), lower miR-34a expression could probably predict poorer outcome in GICs, with a pooled HR of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.52–2.28, P < 0.01). For disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS), lower miR-34a expression was related to worse DFS/PFS/RFS with a pooled HR of 1.86 (95% CI: 1.31–2.63, P < 0.01). A significant relation of differentiation/TNM stage/lymphatic metastasis and the expression level of miR-34a was identified.ConclusionThis meta-analysis revealed that lower miR-34a expression is significantly connected with worse OS and DFS/PFS/RFS in GIC patients. In addition, the miR-34a expression level is relatively lower in patients with lymph node metastasis than in patients without lymph node metastasis, and decreased miR-34a expression levels are linked to poor tumour differentiation and late TNM stage. MiR-34a may become a new factor for the prognosis prediction and progression of GICs.

Highlights

Mounting evidence shows that microRNA-34a is involved in cancer prognosis
MiR-34a has been considered closely related to gastrointestinal cancer multiplication [13], invasion [14] and metastasis [15], which points to the important biological roles of miR34a in cellular signalling pathways, such as the MAPK/ Ras pathway [16], Wnt/β-Catenin pathway [17], PI3K/ Akt pathway [18], SIRT1/p53 pathway [19], and FoxM1/ c-Myc pathway [20]
In conclusion, our study demonstrates that lower miR34a expression is significantly associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and diseasefree survival (DFS)/progression-free survival (PFS)/recurrence-free survival (RFS) and may be a novel prognostic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancers (GICs)

Summary

Introduction

We summarize the predictive role of miR-34a for survival in patients with gastrointestinal cancers (GICs). Studies have reported that miRNAs are abnormally expressed in tumours and have strong diagnostic and prognostic values [5]. MiR-34a has been considered closely related to gastrointestinal cancer multiplication [13], invasion [14] and metastasis [15], which points to the important biological roles of miR34a in cellular signalling pathways, such as the MAPK/ Ras pathway [16], Wnt/β-Catenin pathway [17], PI3K/ Akt pathway [18], SIRT1/p53 pathway [19], and FoxM1/ c-Myc pathway [20]. To assess the prognostic value of miR-34a in GICs systematically and to discuss the association between miR-34a expression and clinicopathological characteristics, we performed a metaanalysis on the basis of all published relevant studies

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Discussion

Conclusion