Clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of tumor-associated macrophages in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) deserve more focus because of its clinicopathologic and prognostic roles in solid tumors. However, the prognostic value of TAMs in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to resolve the issue.

Methods

We selected relevant studies from the Cochrane Library, Embase and PubMed databases. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated employing fixed-effect or random-effect models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials. Moreover, we also performed subgroup analysis, cumulative meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and bias analysis (Egger's test).

Results

A total of 20 observational studies with 4297 patients were enrolled. For TA

SUBMITTER: Ding W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6795444 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature