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ABSTRACT
Objectives
This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases (Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library) up to July 2022. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 17.0. Publication bias was assessed using Begg’s test, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to validate the meta-analysis results.
Results
Ten articles, comprising 1,473 CRC patients and 18 different circulating lncRNAs, were included. Thirteen circulating lncRNAs were found to be up-regulated in CRC patients, while five were down-regulated. High expression of circulating lncRNAs up-regulated in CRC patients was associated with shorter CRC OS (HR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.17, 7.22; P = 0.02, I2 = 86%). Conversely, high expression of circulating lncRNAs down-regulated in CRC patients was linked to longer CRC OS (HR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.40; P < 0.0001, I2 = 0%) and improved DFS (HR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.74; P = 0.0002, I2 = 0%). Additionally, circulating lncRNA levels correlated with TNM staging, tumor location, and lymph node metastasis.
Conclusion
Circulating lncRNAs show promise as prognostic markers for CRC patients, but further studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Abbreviations
Colorectal cancer (CRC), Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), hazard ratio (HR)
Declaration of financial/other relationships
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.
Reviewer disclosures
Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
Author contributions
Bin Hu: conception and design; Angcheng Li: administrative support; Bingjing Jiang: provision of study materials or patients; Bin Hu and Yanfei Zhang: collection and assembly of data; Yanfei Zhang: data analysis and interpretation; all authors: manuscript writing and final approval of the manuscript.