WITHDRAWN: Nestin over-expression predicts poor prognosis in patients with solid tumors: a meta- analysis

Abstract

// Huihui Cheng 1 , Saisai Li 1 , Lulu Zhou 1 , Hui Luo 1 , Zhaojun Shen 1 and Xueqiong Zhu 1 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China Correspondence to: Xueqiong Zhu, email: zjwzzxq@163.com Keywords : nestin; solid tumors; prognosis; meta-analysis Received: July 19, 2017     Accepted: November 14, 2017     Epub: January 03, 2018 Abstract Background: Nestin, as a marker of cancer stem cells, has recently been reported frequently in the pathogenesis and development of human solid tumors. However, the prognostic role of Nestin in patients with solid tumors remains inconclusive. Here, we performed this meta-analysis of relevant studies published on the topic to quantitatively evaluate the prognostic significance of Nestin in solid tumors. Methods: We performed systematically electronic and manual searches through the databases of Pubmed and Embase for titles and abstracts. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) or disease-free survival (DFS)/progression-free survival (PFS)/recurrent-free survival (RFS)/ event-free survival (EFS) were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of Nestin expression in patients with solid tumors. Results: A total of 43 studies involving 6,068 participants were included in the study. Nestin over-expression was associated with statistically significant poor OS (pooled HR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.48-2.05, P <0.001) and shorter CSS (pooled HR = 2.35, 95% CI = 1.87-2.97, P <0.001) and shorter DFS/ PFS/ RFS/EFS (pooled HR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.41-2.23, P <0.001) in solid tumors. Further subgroup analyses showed that different analysis model (univariate or multivariate model), sample-size (≤ 105 or >105), ethnicity (Asia or Europe or South America), primary tumor location, and method for data collection (direct extraction or indirect extraction) didn’t alter the negative prognostic effect of Nestin over-expression on OS. For DFS/ PFS/ RFS/ EFS, subgroup analyses based on statistical analysis model, sample size and study ethnicity also showed the negative prognostic role of Nestin. Conclusion: Nestin over-expression was associated with shorter survival in human solid tumors. Nestin could be a valuable prognosis biomarker of some solid tumors.