Meta-analysis shows that circulating tumor cells including circulating microRNAs are useful to predict the survival of patients with gastric cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are metastatic cells disseminated into the bloodstreams. They have been proposed to monitor disease progression for decades. However, the prognostic value of CTCs in gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the topic.

Methods

A systematic search was made for relevant studies in academic data bases, involving the Medline, Embase, and Science Citation Index. Data on prognosis of GC patients, such as recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS), were extracted when possible. The meta-analysis was performed with the random effects model and the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and their associated 95% confident intervals (95%CIs) were computed as effect measures.

Results

Twenty s

SUBMITTER: Zhang ZY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4210594 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature