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Review
. 2019 Mar 20:19:62.
doi: 10.1186/s12935-019-0783-4. eCollection 2019.

The prognostic value of serum amyloid A in solid tumors: a meta-analysis

Hai-Yingjie Lin #  1 , Guo-Qiang Tan #  2 , Yan Liu  3 , Shao-Qiang Lin  4
Affiliations
Review

The prognostic value of serum amyloid A in solid tumors: a meta-analysis

Hai-Yingjie Lin et al. Cancer Cell Int. .

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that serum amyloid A (SAA) levels are correlated with the clinical outcomes of solid tumors. However, the available data have not been systematically evaluated. The objective of the present meta-analysis was to explore the prognostic value of SAA levels in solid tumors.

Methods: Eligible studies were identified from the PubMed, EMBASE and Science Citation Index electronic databases. The clinical characteristics, disease/progression-free survival (DFS/PFS) and overall survival (OS) were extracted from the eligible studies. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with Stata 12.0 software. We also performed subgroup, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses.

Results: In total, 12 eligible studies including 2749 patients were enrolled in the present meta-analysis. The pooled HRs with 95% CIs showed that elevated levels of SAA were significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.96-4.63) and DFS/PFS (HR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.31-2.12) in patients with solid tumors. Although publication bias was seem found in the studies with regard to OS, a further trim and fill analysis revealed that the adjusted HR was 3.02 (95% CI 1.96-4.63), which was close to the original HR. Subgroup analysis confirmed an elevated level of SAA as a strong prognostic marker in patients with solid tumors, regardless of tumor type, detection method, cut-off value, sample size, area and variance analyses.

Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicated that elevated levels of SAA might be an unfavorable prognostic marker for OS in patients with solid tumors.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; Prognosis; Serum amyloid A; Solid tumors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The flow chart of the study selection process in this meta-analysis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plots of pooled HR of the relationship between SAA level and OS
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plots of pooled HR of the relationship between SAA level and DFS/PFS
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Funnel plots of publication bias of the relationship between SAA level and OS
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Funnel plots of trim and fill analysis of the relationship between SAA level and OS
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Sensitivity analysis of the relationship between SAA level and OS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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