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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Aug 3;13(15):19657-19677.
doi: 10.18632/aging.203376. Epub 2021 Aug 3.

Diagnostic performance of microRNAs in testicular germ cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Xi-Yi Zhao  1 , Yu-Lu Gao  1   2 , Dan-Feng Li  1 , Hong-Chao Liu  1 , Rui-Fang Zhu  3 , Chang-Tai Zhu  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Diagnostic performance of microRNAs in testicular germ cell tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Xi-Yi Zhao et al. Aging (Albany NY). .

Abstract

The sensitivity (Sen) of classic biomarkers for the diagnosis of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) is currently low. Previous studies have shown the diagnostic potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) for TGCTs; however, the results of these studies are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate their diagnostic value. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched until September 30, 2020 and 18 trials from 11 studies involving 2,068 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Using a bivariate mixed-effects meta-analysis model, the pooled Sen, specificity (Spe), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval values of total miRNAs were 0.83 (0.73-0.90), 0.95 (0.89-0.98), 15.79 (7.41-33.66), 0.18 (0.11-0.29), 87.13 (41.99-180.82), and 0.95 (0.93-0.97), respectively; however, the observed values of single miR-371a-3p were 0.84 (0.76-0.90), 0.95 (0.91-0.98), 18.41 (9.69-34.97), 0.17 (0.11-0.26), 111.56 (47.72-260.80), and 0.97 (0.95-0.98), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that miRNAs that included miR-371a-3p showed higher predictive performance than those that did not (P < 0.05). This research identified that miR-371a-3p has a high diagnostic value for TGCTs, except teratoma.

Keywords: biomarker; diagnosis; meta-analysis; microRNAs; testicular germ cell tumors.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study selection process. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 533 records were identified and 218 records with associated abstracts were reviewed. Of these, 49 records were selected for full review, and 11 studies on 18 trials met the eligibility criteria for further data extraction and analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bias risks and applicability concerns: qualification. (A) Risk of bias and applicability concerns graph (review authors’ judgments about each domain presented as percentages across 11 studies on 18 trials); (B) Risk of bias and applicability concerns summary (review authors’ judgments about each domain for each included study).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plots of total microRNAs. (A) Sen of total microRNAs in TGCT; (B) Spe of total microRNAs in TGCT; (C) PLR of total microRNAs in TGCT; (D) NLR of total microRNAs in TGCT; (E) DOR of total microRNAs in TGCT; (F) AUC of total microRNAs in TGCT.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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