The prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation in hairy cell leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis study

Abstract

Abstract Background: BRAF V600E mutations were recently identified in the leukemic cells from patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) that this mutation in exon 15 is considered the disease-defining mutation in HCL. Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to report the prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation in HCL patients. Methods: Three databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to 2017 were searched for the prevalence of BRAF mutation in HCL patients. A random effects meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2.0 with the event rate (ER) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: Out of 552 articles identified from the search, 11 were included included and were analyzed for meta-analysis study. The studies in meta-analysis included 437 patients with HCL, of which 353 (80.8%) patients had BRAF V600E mutation. The pooled ER of the studies was 81.5% (95% CI: 69.5%–89.5%). The Begg's test did not show publication bias, but the Egger's test showed publication bias. Conclusions: With regard to the mentioned limitations, the prevalence of BRAF mutation in HCL patients was >80%. In future studies, considering sex, age, and other variables can exactly show the correlation between these variables with the detection of BRAF mutation.