title: Role of AFP mRNA expression in peripheral blood as a predictor for postsurgical recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the role of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA expression in peripheral blood one week after surgery as a predictor for recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Published studies fulfilling the selection criteria were identified by searching several databases online. After a methodology assessment using a quality scale designed by European Lung Cancer Working Party, data in each research were aggregated by means of meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 368 cases were included in the 9 selected studies, which fulfilled the selection criteria. The quality scores ranged from 35% to 84% with a median score of 55%. The 'design' subscore had the lowest median value (38%). By aggregating the data, a high chi2 value (77.576) was presented. The fail-safe number was 136 and 64 for P = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AFP mRNA expression in peripheral blood 1 wk after surgery correlated with the recurrence of HCC and was a good predictor for tumor recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China. lianyueyang@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Lian-Yue
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Geng-Wen
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jian-Qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: He-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jie-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xiu-Shou
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Ling
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins