title: Poor prognosis of phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 expression in gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL-3) has been implicated in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis. Epidemiological studies have evaluated the relationship between PRL-3 expression and prognosis in GC. However, results still remains controversial. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association of PRL-3 expression with overall survival (OS) and clinicopathological characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature databases were searched to identify eligible studies dated until April 2013. Summary hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to estimate the association.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1380 GC patients from six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the combined HR estimate for OS in a random-effect model was 1.89 (95% CI = 1.38-2.60; P<0.001). Results showed that PRL-3 overexpression was significantly associated with OS, indicating that it may be a biomarker for poor prognosis of GC. Both subgroup and sensitivity analyses further identified the prognostic role of PRL-3 expression in GC patients. Moreover, PRL-3 overexpression was significantly associated with tumor stage (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.63-3.12; P<0.001), depth of invasion (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.38-2.98; P<0.001), vascular invasion (OR = 2.52; 95% CI = 1.79-3.56; P<0.001), lymphatic invasion (OR = 3.74; 95% CI = 2.49-5.63; P<0.001), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 4.56; 95% CI = 2.37-8.76; P<0.001). However, when age, sex, tumor size, and tumor differentiation were considered, no obvious association was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis reveals significant association of PRL-3 overexpression with OS and some clinicopathological features in GC. PRL-3 may be a predicative factor of poor prognosis and aggressive tumor behavior in GC patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: Liren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Haiqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongjiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Taiping
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C484730:PTP4A3 protein, human; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases