The Prognostic Role of miR-31 in Colorectal Cancer: The Results of a Meta-Analysis of 4720 Patients

Abstract

Aims: To study the association between miR-31 expression and clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer. Methods: A systematic search was performed and 16 studies were found eligible. To calculate the combined hazard ratio (HR), the DerSimonian and Laird random‐effects model was used. Results: Pooled analysis revealed significant associations between high miR-31 expression and poor overall (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.47–0.97; I²: 68.6%) and progression-free survival (HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.33–0.73; I²: 81.1%). High expressers were more likely to have a BRAF mutation. Therapeutic regimen and the mutational status significantly affected the observed associations. Conclusion: We identified that high miR-31 expression is associated with poor overall survival and progression-free survival and has a significant predictive value for anti-EGFR response.

Lay abstract

We aim to investigate whether the molecular marker miR-31 is useful in predicting clinical outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted a systematic search in the major scientific databases was performed and 16 studies were found eligible for data extraction.The analysis revealed that high levels of miR-31 in CRC patients are indicative of a shorter survival time. Patients with high miR-31 levels were also more likely to have a mutation in BRAF, an important gene in the pathogenesis and response to treatment of CRC patients. We showed that high levels of miR-31 are associated with shorter survival with a significant predictive value for anti-EGFR response.

Keywords::

• biomarker
• cetuximab
• EGFR
• KRAS
• survival
• tumor

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/epi-2021-0277

M Moloudizargari performed the systematic search, screening and meta-analysis and wrote the paper; J Rahmani provided consultation on data extraction and analysis; M Hossein Asghari helped in data screening and figure preparation; A Goel supervised the whole project and edited and revised the paper.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.