Limitations and suggestions for type 2 diabetes mellitus and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors based on meta-analysis

We read with great interest the systematic review and meta-analysis by Cigrovski Berkovic et al published recently,which evaluated the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors(pNETs).The study identified T2DM as a risk factor for the development of pNETs and linked it to poor tumor-free survival.However,due to the limited number of studies and high heterogeneity,the role of metformin in the diagnosis and prognosis of pNETs remained inconclusive.We believe the study has some limitations regarding literature search,risk of bias assessment,and analysis of heterogeneity and publication bias.Expanding the search to more databases,applying more appropriate bias assessment tools,and using better statistical methods to evaluate heterogeneity and publication bias would strengthen the study’s conclusions.Addressing these concerns could provide more robust evidence for understanding the diagnostic and prognostic impact of T2DM in pNETs.

Transarterial chemoembolization plus stent placement for hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Portal vein tumor thrombus is an important indicator of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.Transarterial chemoembolization is recommended as the standard first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.Portal vein stent placement is a safe and effective therapy for promptly restoring flow and relieving portal hypertension caused by tumor thrombus.AIM To assess the clinical significance of transarterial chemoembolization plus stent placement for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis.METHODS We searched English and Chinese databases,assessed the quality of the included studies,analyzed the characteristic data,tested heterogeneity,explored heterogeneity,and tested publication bias.RESULTS In total,eight clinical controlled trials were included.The results showed that the pressure in the main portal vein after stent placement was significantly lower than that with no stent placement.The cumulative stent patency and survival rates at 6 and 12 months were lower in the transarterial chemoembolization+stent placement group than in the transarterial chemoembolization+stent placement+brachytherapy/radiotherapy group.The survival rates of patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization+stent placement for 6 and 12 months were higher than those of patients treated with transarterial chemoembolization alone.CONCLUSION For Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis,transarterial chemoembolization plus stenting is effective.Transarterial chemoembolization+stent placement is more effective than transarterial chemoembolization alone.Transarterial chemoembolization+stent placement+brachytherapy/radiotherapy is more effective than transarterial chemoembolization+stenting.

The clinical association of programmed cell death protein 4(PDCD4) with solid tumors and its prognostic significance:a meta-analysis

Background: Programmed cell death protein 4(PDCD4) is a novel tumor suppressor protein involved in pro?grammed cell death. Its association with cancer progression has been observed in multiple tumor models, but evidence supporting its association with solid tumors in humans remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the clinical signiicance and prognostic value of PDCD4 in solid tumors.Methods: A systematic literature review was performed to retrieve publications with available clinical informa?tion and survival data. The eligibility of the selected articles was based on the criteria of the Dutch Cochrane Centre proposed by the Meta?analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology group. Pooled odds ratios(ORs), hazard ratios(HRs), and 95% conidence intervals(CIs) for survival analysis were calculated. Publication bias was examined by Begg's and Egger's tests.Results: Clinical data of 2227 cancer patients with solid tumors from 23 studies were evaluated. PDCD4 expression was signiicantly associated with the diferentiation status of head and neck cancer(OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.87–9.66) and digestive system cancer(OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.84–4.48). Down?regulation of PDCD4 was signiicantly associated with short overall survival of patients with head and neck(HR: 3.44, 95% CI 2.38–4.98), breast(HR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.36–2.54), digestive system(HR: 2.12, 95% CI 1.75–2.56), and urinary system cancers(HR: 3.16, 95% CI 1.06–9.41).Conclusions: The current evidence suggests that PDCD4 down?regulation is involved in the progression of several types of solid tumor and is a potential marker for solid tumor prognoses. Its clinical usefulness should be conirmed by large?scale prospective studies.

Unraveling the enigma:A comprehensive review of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas(SPTP)is a rare neoplasm predom-inantly observed in young females.Pathologically,CTNNB1 mutations,β-catenin nuclear accumulation,and subsequent Wnt-signaling pathway activation are the leading molecular features.Accurate preoperative diagnosis often relies on imaging techniques and endoscopic biopsies.Surgical resection remains the mainstay treatment.Risk models,such as the Fudan Prognostic Index,show promise as predictive tools for assessing the prognosis of SPTP.Establishing three types of metachronous liver metastasis can be beneficial in tailoring individu-alized treatment and follow-up strategies.Despite advancements,challenges persist in understanding its etiology,establishing standardized treatments for unresectable or metastatic diseases,and developing a widely recognized grading system.This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the enigma by consolidating current knowledge on the epidemiology,clinical presentation,pathology,molecular characteristics,diagnostic methods,treatment options,and prognostic factors.

Comparison between laparoscopic and open surgery for large gastrointestinal stromal tumors:A meta-analysis

AIM To investigate whether laparoscopic surgery is as safe and feasible as open resection for patients with larger gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)(≥ 5 cm).METHODS A systematic search of Pub Med, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library database was performed. Relevant studies of laparoscopic and open surgery for GISTs of > 5 cm published before December 2016 were identified from these databases. The quality of the studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. The tumor size, operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complication rate, and disease-free survival rate were assessed. The software Stata(version 12.0) was used for the meta-analysis.RESULTS Five clinical trials comprising 209 patients with GISTs of similar larger sizes were evaluated. The pooled analysis of 100 patients in the laparoscopic resection group and 109 patients in the open resection group demonstrated that laparoscopic surgery was significantly associated with a shorter postoperative hospital stay(P < 0.001)and less blood loss(P = 0.002). Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences in the operation time(P = 0.38), postoperative complication rate(P = 0.88), or disease-free survival rate(P = 0.20) between two groups. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed that for patients with large GISTs of comparable sizes, laparoscopic surgery did not significantly influence the operation factors or clinical outcomes compared with open surgery. This suggests that laparoscopic resection is as acceptable as open surgery for treatment of large gastric GISTs.

Efficacy evaluation of imatinib treatment in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors:A meta-analysis

AIM:To perform a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of imatinib treatment for different genotypes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GIST).METHODS:Studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase.Inclusive criteria were patients with exon 9-mutant,exon 11-mutant or wide type(WT) GIST,receiving chemotherapy of imatinib for clinical trial,and efficacy evaluation was cumulative response (CR)including complete response and partial response.The odds ratios(OR)for CR in stem cell factor receptor (KIT)mutation patients vs WT genotype patients,KIT exon 11-mutant genotype patients vs KIT exon 9-mutant genotype patients and KIT exon 9-mutant genotype patients vs WT genotype patients were calculated with 95%confidence interval(CI)for each study as an estimation of the efficacy of imatinib.RESULTS:Five studies including 927 patients were involved in this meta-analysis.The overall OR(KIT group vs WT group)was 3.34(95%CI:2.30-4.86,P <0.00001,P heterogeneity=0.04).The overall OR in KIT exon 11 group vs KIT exon 9 group was 3.29(95%CI: 2.17-5.00,P<0.00001,P heterogeneity=0.33).The overall OR in KIT exon 9 group vs WT group was 1.23(95% CI:0.73-2.10,P=0.44,P heterogeneity=0.42).CONCLUSION:Most patients with different genotypes of GIST and KIT exon 11-mutant will benefit from the individualized treatment of imatinib.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the association of tuberculosis in Crohn's disease patients treated with tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors(Anti-TNFα)

AIM To perform a meta-analysis on the risk of developing Mycobacterium tuberculosis(TB) infection in Crohn's disease(CD) patients treated with tumor necrosis factoralpha(TNFα) inhibitors.METHODS A meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled trials of TNFα inhibitors for treatment of CD in adults was conducted. Arcsine transformation of TB incidence was performed to estimate risk difference. A novel epidemiologically-based correction(EBC) enabling inclusions of studies reporting no TB infection cases in placebo and treatment groups was developed to estimate relative odds.RESULTS Twenty-three clinical trial studies were identified, including 5669 patients. Six TB infection cases were reported across 5 studies, all from patients receiving TNFα inhibitors. Eighteen studies reported no TB infection cases in placebo and TNFα inhibitor treatment arms. TB infection risk was significantly increased among patients receiving TNFα inhibitors, with a risk difference of 0.028(95%CI: 0.0011-0.055). The odds ratio was 4.85(95%CI: 1.02-22.99) with EBC and 5.85(95%CI: 1.13-30.38) without EBC.CONCLUSION The risk of TB infection is higher among CD patients receiving TNFα inhibitors. Understanding the immunopathogenesis of CD is crucial, since using TNFα inhibitors in these patients could favor mycobacterial infections, particularly Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, which ultimately could worsen their clinical condition.

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas:A systematic review of clinical,surgical and oncological characteristics of 1384 patients underwent pancreatic surgery

Background:Pancreatic solid pseudopapillary tumors(SPTs)are rare clinical entity,with low malignancy and still unclear pathogenesis.They account for less than 2%of exocrine pancreatic neoplasms.This study aimed to perform a systematic review of the main clinical,surgical and oncological characteristics of pancreatic SPTs.Data sources:MEDLINE/PubMed,Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched for the main clinical,surgical and oncological characteristics of pancreatic SPTs up to April 2021,in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses(PRISMA)standards.Primary endpoints were to analyze treatments and oncological outcomes.Results:A total of 823 studies were recorded,86 studies underwent full-text reviews and 28 met inclusion criteria.Overall,1384 patients underwent pancreatic surgery.Mean age was 30 years and 1181 patients(85.3%)were female.The most common clinical presentation was non-specific abdominal pain(52.6%of cases).Mean overall survival was 98.1%.Mean recurrence rate was 2.8%.Mean follow-up was 4.2 years.Conclusions:Pancreatic SPTs are rare,and predominantly affect young women with unclear pathogenesis.Radical resection is the gold standard of treatment achieving good oncological impact and a favorable prognosis in a yearly life-long follow-up.

Correlation analysis of interstitial maturity and prognosis of colorectal cancer:Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND To investigate the relationship between interstitial maturity and prognosis of colorectal cancer.AIM To examine the correlation between interstitial maturity and the prognosis of colorectal cancer.METHODS The paper database PubMed,EMBASE,Cochranelibrary,Springerlink,CNKI,and Wanfang database were searched until December 2023."tumor stroma maturity""desmoplastic stroma reaction""desmoplastic reaction""stroma reaction""degree of stroma reaction""stroma classification""stroma density""colorectal cancer""colon cancer""rectal cancer""prognosis"were searched for the search terms.Two system assessors independently screened the literature quality according to the inclusion exclusion criteria,Quality evaluation and data extraction were performed for the included literatures,and meta-analysis was performed for randomized control trials included at using Review Manager 5.2 software.RESULTS Finally,data of 9849 patients with colorectal cancer from 19 cosets in 15 literatures were included,including 4339 patients with mature type(control group),3048 patients with intermediate type(intermediate group)and 2456 patients with immature type(immature group).The results of meta-analysis showed:Relapse-free survival[hazard ratio(HR)=2.66,95%confidence interval(CI):2.30-3.08;P<0.00001],disease-free survival(HR=3.68,95%CI:2.33-5.81;P<0.00001)and overall survival(HR=1.70,95%CI:1.53-1.87;P<0.00001)were significantly lower than those in mature group(control group);relapse-free survival(HR=1.36,95%CI:1.17-1.59;P<0.0001)and disease-free survival rate(HR=1.85,95%CI:1.53-2.24;P<0.0001)was significantly lower than the mature group(control group).CONCLUSION There is the correlation between tumor interstitial maturity and survival prognosis of colorectal cancer,and different degrees of tumor interstitial maturity have a certain impact on the quality of life of colorectal cancer patients.

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonism in Asthma:a Meta-analysis of the Published Literature

It remains controversial whether tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α antagonism is effective for asthma.This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate efficacy of TNF-α antagonism in treatment of patients with asthma.MEDLINE,EMBASE,LILACS,and CINAHL databases were searched for English-language studies published through January 3,2010.Randomized-controlled trials comparing TNF-α antagonism with control therapy were selected.For each report,data were extracted in relation to the outcomes analyzed：asthma exacerbation,asthma quality of life questionnaire scores,and forced expiratory volume in 1 second.Four assessable trials were identified including 641 patients with asthma.TNF-α antagonism therapy was superior to control therapy in preventing exacerbations in asthmatics [pooled odds ratio 0.52（95% confidence interval 0.29-0.88）,P=0.02]however,there was a nonsignificant reduction in asthma quality of life questionnaire scores [0.23（0 to 0.47）,P=0.05],forced expiratory volume in 1 second [0.03,（-0.14 to 0.10）,P=0.74] when analyzed using standardized mean differences.TNF-α antagonism was superior to control chemotherapy in terms of asthma exacerbation,but not asthma quality of life questionnaire scores or forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

The effect of Cordyceps Sinensis in the prognosis on patients receiving chemotherapy with malignant tumors:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:The efficacy of Cordyceps Sinensis(CS)on malignant tumors remains controversial.We undertook a systematic meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical studies on this issue.Method:A comprehensive literature search(by the end of Sep.31,2017)was conducted in following electronic databases:China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),VIP database,Wan fang database(VIP),PubMed,Medline,and EMBASE.Relevant studies were included according to inclusion criteria.Pooled relative risk was estimated by using the fixed effects model or random effects model according to heterogeneity.Data were extracted independently and the standardized mean deviation(SMD)of the calculated results was obtained.Result:After selection,8 of 729 studies were included.The result showed that CS combined with chemotherapeutic drugs was favorable for the treatment of malignant tumor.The amount of CD3^+T cells in the experimental group was signi行cantly higher than that in the control group(SMD=0.86;95%CI=0.02,1.70;P<0.01;I2=91%).The amount of CD4^+T cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(SMD=0.95;95%CI=0.22,1.68;P<0.01;I2=88%).The amount of CD8^+T cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(SMD=-0.07;95%CI=-0.30,0.17;P=0.32;I^2=14%).The rate of CD4^+/CD8^+T cells in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group(SMD=27.76;95%CI=25.25,30.28;P=0.39;I^2=0%).And CS may retard the declining trend of KPS functional status evaluation(RR=0.46,95%CI=0.2780,0.7350;P<0.01),thus improving the patients'life quality.Conclusion:The current evidence suggested that CS is favorable to improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in patients with malignant tumors,probably by improving immune system function.

Medical imaging-based companion diagnostics for solid tumors

Heterogeneity within the solid tumor microenvironment contributes to a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic responses.Companion diagnostics(CDx),a clinical technique that gives doctors vital biomarker information to enhance patient outcomes through matching specific treatments to patients,is becoming more and more important.However,most current US Food and Drug Administration(FDA)-approved CDx tests have difficulty dynamically reflecting variations in biomarkers in the solid tumor microenvironment because they are used in vitro and ex vivo.Consequently,new medical imaging-based CDx tests have been widely used to detect interpatient and intrapatient tumor heterogeneity to assess the intratumoral distribution of specific biomarkers and microenvironment variables.They provide patient stratification for targeted therapies and the differentiation of patient populations that benefit from alternative treatments.This review provides an overview of the recent advances in medical imaging-based CDx for solid tumors and summarizes the various tumor microenvironment biomarkers utilized in imaging-based CDx.We believe that this review offers additional details and directions for promoting medical imaging-based CDx development.

Research Progress on the Mental Toughness of Family Caregivers of Children with Malignant Solid Tumors

The physical,emotional,and caregiving quality of caregivers for children with malignant solid tumors is significantly influenced by mental toughness.The definition of mental toughness,study methods,primary influencing factors,and intervention strategies for the mental toughness of caregivers of children with malignant solid tumors will be examined in this paper.To improve the mental toughness of caregivers of children with malignant solid tumors,it is recommended that future studies enhance the number of intervention research methods and establish particular evaluation tools.

Unraveling the landscape of pediatric pancreatic tumors:Insights from Japan

Pediatric pancreatic tumors,though rare,pose significant diagnostic and manage-ment challenges.The recent,22-year nationwide survey on pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan by Makita et al offers valuable insights into this uncommon enti-ty,revealing striking geographical variations and questioning current treatment paradigms.This editorial commentary analyzes the study's key findings,inclu-ding the predominance of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms and their younger age of onset,which contrast sharply with Western data.It explores the implications for clinical practice and research,emphasizing the need for population-specific approaches to diagnosis and treatment.The revealed limited institutional expe-rience and surgical management patterns prompt a reevaluation of optimal care delivery for these complex cases,suggesting benefits of centralizing healthcare services.Furthermore,the commentary advocates for international collaborative studies to elucidate the genetic,environmental,and lifestyle factors influencing the development and progression of pediatric pancreatic tumors across diverse populations.It also outlines future directions,calling for advancements in precision medicine and innovative care delivery models to improve global patient outcomes.Unraveling Makita et al's findings within the broader landscape of pediatric oncology can stimulate further research and clinical advancements in managing pancreatic and other rare tumors in children.

Associations between the Serum Zinc Levels and Digestive Tract Tumors:A Meta-Analysis

Background The incidence and mortality rates of digestive tract tumors are among the top ten worldwide.Notably,studies have shown that zinc may be significantly related to digestive tract tumors.This meta analysis was conducted to explore whether the serum zinc level of patients is associated with gastrointestinal cancer.Methods We systematically searched PUBMED,the Cochrane Library,the Web of Science and EMBASE from their start dates up to October 2022 for studies on the association between the serum zinc concentration and digestive tract tumors.The I^(2)statistic was used to assess the heterogeneity.A sensitivity analysis,subgroup analysis and meta-regression analysis were also used to analyze heterogeneity.Moreover,Begg’s and Egger’s tests were adopted to assess potential publication bias.Results In total,we identified 24 eligible studies with 1,499 total participants with digestive tract tumors and 6,039 participants without tumors.The average serum zinc concentration in patients with digestive tract tumors was lower than that in the control group(SMD=-0.98,95%CI:-1.29~-0.66,I^(2):94.1%,P<0.001).Specifically,the serum zinc concentration of patients with esophageal cancer(SMD=-2.08,95%CI:-2.89~-1.26,I^(2):92.9%,P<0.001),gastric cancer(SMD=-0.74,95%CI:-1.16~-0.33,I^(2):92.1%,P<0.001),and colorectal cancer(SMD=-0.85,95%CI:-1.51~-0.19,I^(2):95.9%P<0.05)were significantly different from the controls.Conclusion Our review showed that the serum zinc concentration in patients with digestive tract tumors was lower than that in patients without tumors,and further studies are needed to explore how zinc affects the occurrence and development of digestive tract tumors.

Therapeutic guidance of tumor mutation burden on immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer:a systematic review and comprehensive meta-analysis

Background:Tumor mutation burden(TMB)remains a promising but ambiguous predictive biomarker for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).We investigated the predictive value of TMB in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)treated by ICI-containing therapies under strictly matched clinical settings.Methods:PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Central,ClinicalTrials.gov,and bioRxiv databases were searched till October 16,2021.All randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that compared patients with high TMB(TMB-H)and low TMB(TMB-L)and provided hazard ratio(HR)and corresponding 95%confidence interval(CI)in advanced NSCLC patients receiving ICIs were included,and mirror-based meta-analysis was performed(Part1).Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the efficacy of distinct first-line regimens in TMB-H and TMB-L groups(Part2).Public cohorts were used for validation and further exploration(Part3).Results:Twelve RCTs(n=5527)and 5 public cohorts(n=573)were included.In Part1,TMB-H patients generally exhibited a more significant progression-free survival(PFS)benefit from ICI-containing therapies compared to TMB-L patients(HR=0.58,95%CI:0.49-0.67,P<0.0001).In Part2,anti-PD-1 plus chemotherapy ranked best for PFS in both TMB-H and TMB-L groups.Anti-PD-L1 plus anti-CTLA-4 therapies indicated better PFS and overall survival(OS)benefit than single ICI and chemotherapy in the TMB-H group,but ranked worst in the TMB-L group.Finally,TMB was validated to be an independent predictive biomarker from programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1)expression in Part3,which could further distinguish beneficiaries of ICI-containing therapies with PD-L1<50%.Conclusion:TMB-H could be a predictive biomarker independent of PD-L1 expression to identify beneficiaries of ICI-containing therapy in advanced NSCLC patients.

Identification of BTG1 Status in Solid Cancer for Future Researches Using a System Review and Meta-analysis

Abundant studies have been conducted to identify how B-cell translocation gene 1 protein(BTG1)gene affects the differentiation,proliferation,metastasis of cancer cells,and how it further regulates the generation or development of diseases to influence the prognosis of patients.However,the data from single research were not powerful enough.The correlations between BTG1 expression and mechanisms of tumorigenesis or prognosis of patients are still in controversial.Our system review and meta-analysis provided a complete explanation about the association between BTG1 expression and clinicopathological features or prognosis of patients,which further laid a foundation for future research on BTG1.Fifteen eligible studies consisting of 1992 participants were included.We uncovered that BTG1 expression in solid tumors was associated w让h lymph node status(RR=0.66,95%CI:0.58-0.75,P=0.142),TMN stage status(RR=2.13,95%CI:1.71-2.65,P=0.001),T category(RR=1.90,95%CI:1.20-3.00,P=0.000),histological differentiation(RR-1.91,95%CI:1.55-2.37,7=0.012),vascular invasion(RR=0.90,95%CI:0.57-1.41,P=0.001).BTG1 low expression was significantly associated with overall survival(OS)(HR=0.47,95%CI:0.38-0.67,P=0.000).It concluded that BTG1 possessed the potential value for future research and could be recommended as a significant biomarker in solid tumor.

Solid-Pseudopapillary Tumor: Case Report and Literature Review

Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPT) or Frantz’s tumor is a rare epithelial neoplasm that represents 0.3% to 2.7% of exocrine pancreatic tumors. These tumors occur mainly in young women and have a good prognosis. We present a case of a 19-year-old female patient who presented to the emergency for abdominal pain. Physical examination reveals a left hypochondrium mass. Ultrasound imaging showed an encapsulated caudal pancreatic mass with cystic components. The patient underwent tumor excision and lymph node removal. Macroscopically, the tumor was encapsulated and measuring 12 × 8 × 7 cm. It has a solid-cystic and hemorrhagic appearance inside. Histologically, the tumor had two components: solid and papillary. Tumor tissue showed monomorphic tumor cells radiating around blood vessels. Perineural invasion and vascular emboli were not seen. Three lymph nodes without metastases were observed. The diagnosis of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPT) or Frantz’s tumor was retained. Solid-pseudo-papillary tumor of the pancreas is rare and not always suspected by the physician. The clinical and imaging patterns are not specific. Anatomopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent curative surgery.

Clinicopathological and Prognostic Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, BioMed, and EMbase databases for studies that assessed the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and CTCs in patients with head and neck cancer. Studies obtained from search strategy were screened using pre-specified criteria, and necessary data were retrieved for meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen studies with 816 patients were eligible for combined analysis. Presence of CTCs in peripheral blood was significantly associated with N stage (OR 0.50, 95%CI [0.30, 0.81], n = 10, P = 0.005). Patients in the high-CTC group were significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS;HR = 1.73, 95%CI [1.01 - 2.96], P = 0.050) and poorer overall survival (OS;HR = 2.53, 95%CI [1.37 - 4.69] P = 0.003). Further analyses indicated strong prognostic powers of CTCs in non-RT-PCR group and pre-treatment group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that presence of CTCs is associated with higher N stage and poorer prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. The potential for further clinical application may be needed for further investigation.Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, BioMed, and EMbase databases for studies that assessed the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and CTCs in patients with head and neck cancer. Studies obtained from search strategy were screened using pre-specified criteria, and necessary data were retrieved for meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen studies with 816 patients were eligible for combined analysis. Presence of CTCs in peripheral blood was significantly associated with N stage (OR 0.50, 95%CI [0.30, 0.81], n = 10, P = 0.005). Patients in the high-CTC group were significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS;HR = 1.73, 95%CI [1.01 - 2.96], P = 0.050) and poorer overall survival (OS;HR = 2.53, 95%CI [1.37 - 4.69] P = 0.003). Further analyses indicated strong prognostic powers of CTCs in non-RT-PCR group and pre-treatment group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that presence of CTCs is associated with higher N stage and poorer prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. The potential for further clinical application may be needed for further investigation.

The prognostic value of baseline circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Objective:The prognostic value of circulating tumor cells(CTCs)in metastatic breast cancer(MBC)patients was contentious.A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate whether MBC patients’clinical outcomes could be predicted by CTCs detection.Methods:Relevant published studies were searched through electronic databases from January 1990 to February 2018,among which,those investigated the correlation between CTCs and clinical outcomes of progression-free survival and overall survival in MBC patients were involved.The hazard ratios(HR)and confidence intervals(CI)in the studies were extracted from the study using random or fixed effects model,and the meta-analysis was conducted.The prognostic value of tumor cells in patients with different subtypes was estimated by subgroup analysis.Results:Twenty-one eligible studies enrolling 3,837 patients were appropriate for pooled analysis.Progression-free survival(HR,1.66;95%CI,1.47–1.87;P=0.000)and overall survival(HR,2.51;95%CI,2.13–2.96;P=0.000)were worse in patients with CTCs-positive.Subtypes of hormone receptor(HorR)positive,human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2)negative and triple negative with presence of CTCs showed a statistically significant worse PFS and OS.However,CTCs detection presented no prognostic value in patients with HorR-negative or HER2-positive subtypes.Conclusion:The enumeration of CTCs at baseline in patients with MBC subtypes of HorR-positive,HER2-negative and triple negative is connected with disease progression and poor survival,but inappropriate for HorR-negative and HER2-positive subtypes.