Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2016 Jul 26;11(7):e0159947.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159947. eCollection 2016.

Stromal Myofibroblasts Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Solid Cancers: A Meta-Analysis of Published Studies

Liu Liu  1 , Lin Liu  2 , Han Hui Yao  1 , Zhi Qiang Zhu  1 , Zhong Liang Ning  1 , Qiang Huang  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Stromal Myofibroblasts Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Solid Cancers: A Meta-Analysis of Published Studies

Liu Liu et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objective: Published studies have evaluated the impact of stromal myofibroblasts on prognosis in solid cancers. However, the results of these studies remain controversial. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to address this issue.

Methods: The PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Embase databases were searched through November 30th, 2015 by two investigators, and a total of 17 studies that contained 2606 patients were included. Stromal myofibroblasts were quantified in solid cancers using α-smooth muscle actin staining. Pooled Odds Ratio with 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated, and publication bias was analyzed.

Results: The results of this study suggest that in solid cancers, a high density of stromal myofibroblasts is significantly associated with poor 3- and 5-year overall survival (pooled odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.33 (1.10-1.60) for 3-year overall survival and 1.68 (1.22-2.32) for 5-year overall survival). In addition, a high density of stromal myofibroblasts also predicted poor 3- and 5-year disease-free survival (1.30 (1.05-1.60) for 3-year disease-free survival and 1.36 (1.01-1.83) for 5-year disease-free survival). However, stromal myofibroblasts were not associated with 3- and 5-year cancer-specific survival. No publication bias was found for all analyses.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a high density of stromal myofibroblasts is associated with poor survival in solid cancers. More studies were required to investigate the prognostic value of stromal myofibroblasts in different types of solid cancers.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart showing the method used to select eligible studies.
Fig 2
Fig 2. A high density of α-smooth muscle actin-labeled stromal myofibroblasts was associates with poor 3- and 5-year overall survival.
A, 3-year overall survival; and B, 5-year overall survival.
Fig 3
Fig 3. A high density of α-smooth muscle actin-labeled stromal myofibroblasts was associated with poor 3- and 5-year disease-free survival.
A, 3-year disease-free survival; and B, 5-year disease-free survival.
Fig 4
Fig 4. α-smooth muscle actin-labeled stromal myofibroblasts were not associated with cancer-specific survival.
A, 3-year cancer-specific survival; and B, 5-year cancer-specific survival.
Fig 5
Fig 5. The Egger’s publication bias plot suggested that there was no publication bias for overall survival, disease-free survival and cancer-specific survival.
A-B, 3- and 5-year overall survival; C-D, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival; and E-F, 3- and 5-year cancer-specific survival.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Chen W, Zheng R, Zhang S, Zhao P, Zeng H, Zou X, et al. Annual report on status of cancer in China, 2010. Chin J Cancer Res. 2014;26: 48–58. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63: 11–30. 10.3322/caac.21166 Epub 22013 Jan 21117. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ceelen WP, Bracke ME. Peritoneal minimal residual disease in colorectal cancer: mechanisms, prevention, and treatment. Lancet Oncol. 2009;10: 72–79. 10.1016/S1470-2045(08)70335-8 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Jayne DG. The molecular biology of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastrointestinal cancer. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2003;32: 219–225. - PubMed
    1. Bianchi G, Borgonovo G, Pistoia V, Raffaghello L. Immunosuppressive cells and tumour microenvironment: focus on mesenchymal stem cells and myeloid derived suppressor cells. Histol Histopathol. 2011;26: 941–951. - PubMed

Publication types