title: Plasma or serum TIMP-1 is a predictor of survival outcomes in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a small secretory glycoprotein with anti-apoptosis and anti-matrix metalloproteinase activity. There have been some discordant data regarding the value of TIMP-1 as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. To address this controversy, we conducted a meta-analysis for the relationship between TIMP-1 levels and overall survival in CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected the relevant published studies using citation databases including PubMed, Science Citation Index, and Conference Papers Index. The effect sizes of TIMP-1 on the patient's overall survival and TNM stages were calculated by hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR), respectively. The effect sizes were combined using a random-effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival outcomes between high and low plasma or serum TIMP-1 levels were compared by uni- and multivariate analyses involving 1,477 and 1,359 CRC patients, respectively. CRC patients with high plasma or serum TIMP-1 levels showed poor survival rates compared to patients with low plasma or serum TIMP-1 in the uni- and multivariate analyses (HR, 2.2 and 2.1; P < 0.001). In addition, high TIMP-1 expression in colon cancer tissues was significantly associated with worse survival outcomes in 438 CRC patients (HR = 1.4; P = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma or serum TIMP-1 levels predict survival outcomes of CRC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan-Si, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D017594:Publication Bias; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1