The predictive effect of overexpressed miR-34a on good survival of cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Jian Wang,1 Guorong Dan,1 Jiqing Zhao,1 Yu Ding,2 Feng Ye,1 Huiqin Sun,1 Fan Jiang,1 Jin Cheng,1 Fahuan Yuan,2 Zhongmin Zou11Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, The Third Military Medical University, 2Department of Nephrology, Xinqiao Hospital, Shapingba District, Chongqing, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) is a potential prognostic factor for survival in patients with several types of cancer according to previous clinical researches. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the significance of increased miR-34a expression in the prognosis of patients’ overall survival.Materials and methods: The present systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 researches included 2,597 patients. Overexpression of miR-34a may predict good overall survival ([OS], HR =0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.55–1.06, P=0.105), but the effect was not significant enough. Subgroup analysis results showed miR-34a was an ideal predictor for digestive system cancer (OS, HR =0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.25–0.99, P=0.048). The predictive effects of elevated expression of miR-34a on the OS of untreated and treated patients were not of obvious differences.Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that miR-34a has a predictive effect on overall survival of patients with digestive system cancer.Keywords: meta-analysis, systematic review, miR-34a, cancer, prognosis