Kai Wang1, Zhen Chen1, Rongzu Wu1, Jun Yin1, Min Fan1, Xianlin Xu2. 1. Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China. 2. Department of Urology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangning District, Nanjing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, many studies have demonstrated that galectin-9 (Gal-9) exhibits altered expression and has a close association with metastasis and recurrence in various cancers. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic role of Gal-9 expression in solid tumours. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until June 2017 and identified fourteen eligible studies containing 2,408 patients to include in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled results indicated that higher Gal-9 expression in cancer tissue associated with an improved CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.58). In the subgroup analysis, a significant relationship was observed between higher Gal-9 expression and both CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.59) and OS (HR=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.78) in digestive cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis highlight the role of Gal-9 as a useful clinical prognostic biomarker, which may facilitate the treatment of patients with solid tumours.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recently, many studies have demonstrated that galectin-9 (Gal-9) exhibits altered expression and has a close association with metastasis and recurrence in various cancers. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic role of Gal-9 expression in solid tumours. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until June 2017 and identified fourteen eligible studies containing 2,408 patients to include in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: The pooled results indicated that higher Gal-9 expression in cancer tissue associated with an improved CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.58). In the subgroup analysis, a significant relationship was observed between higher Gal-9 expression and both CSS (HR=0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.59) and OS (HR=0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.78) in digestive cancers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis highlight the role of Gal-9 as a useful clinical prognostic biomarker, which may facilitate the treatment of patients with solid tumours.