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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Mar 1;12(3):e0173194.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173194. eCollection 2017.

Association between promoter methylation of DAPK gene and HNSCC: A meta-analysis

Fucheng Cai  1 , Xiyue Xiao  2 , Xun Niu  3 , Yi Zhong  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Association between promoter methylation of DAPK gene and HNSCC: A meta-analysis

Fucheng Cai et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a tumor suppressor gene, which is a mediator of cell death of INF-γ-induced apoptosis. Aberrant methylation of DAPK promoter has been reported in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the results of these studies are inconsistent. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the association between the promoter methylation of DAPK gene and HNSCC.

Methods: Relevant studies were systematically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, and Embase. The association between DAPK promoter methylation and HNSCC was assessed by odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). To evaluate the potential sources of heterogeneity, we conducted the meta-regression analysis and subgroup analysis.

Results: Eighteen studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. The frequency of DAPK promoter methylation in patients with HNSCC was 4.09-fold higher than the non-cancerous controls (OR = 3.96, 95%CI = 2.26-6.95). A significant association between DAPK promoter methylation and HNSCC was found among the Asian region and the Non-Asia region (Asian region, OR = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.29-8.58; Non-Asia region, OR = 3.39, 95% CI = 1.18-9.78). In the control source, the significant association between DAPK promoter methylation and HNSCC was seen among the autologous group and the heterogeneous group (autologous group, OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.49-4.93; heterogeneous group, OR = 9.50, 95% CI = 2.98-30.27). DAPK promoter methylation was significantly correlated with alcohol status (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.07-3.21).

Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis suggested that aberrant methylation of DAPK promoter was associated with HNSCC.

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Conflict of interest statement

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

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart of studies included in the meta-analysis.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with HNSCC.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with clinicopathological features
A: Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with sex B: Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with smoking status C: Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with alcohol status D: Forest plots of DAPK promoter methylation associated with lymph node invasion.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Sensitivity analysis of DAPK promoter methylation and HNSCC by the random-effects method.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Begg’s funnel plot of DAPK promoter methylation associated with HNSCC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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