title: The Clinical Implications of Transforming Growth Factor Beta in Pathological Grade and Prognosis of Glioma Patients: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway plays a key role in oncogenesis of advanced cancers. However, the effects of TGF-β pathway on gliomas are still controversial. So, it is essential to conduct a meta-analysis to determine their correlations. Eligible studies were included, and then odds ratios (ORs), standard mean differences (SMDs), and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated. Funnel plots were available for evaluation of publication bias. In this meta-analysis, all 14 eligible studies involving 875 patients were included and conducted in China. Six studies with dichotomous data revealed altered TGF-β expression in glioma tissues was closely associated with high WHO grade (III + IV) (OR 4.39, 95% CI 2.90-6.63; p = 0.000), meanwhile, seven studies with continuous data also demonstrated TGF-β expression intensity extremely related to high grade (SMD -2.44, 95% CI -2.71, -2.16; p = 0.000). To our interest, TGF-β expression was associated with old age (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.36-0.93; p = 0.025) rather than gender (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.64-1.67; p = 0.884). Besides, TGF-β expression significantly correlated to 3-year-OS (n = 2; HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.18-5.41; p = 0.017) rather than 5-year-OS (n = 1; HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.66-1.64; p = 0.872) in glioma patients. No heterogeneity and publication bias were observed across all studies. Taken together, the present meta-analysis testifies TGF-β is potently associated with high grade and poor 3 years prognosis, and TGF-β test combined with survivin [1 Mol Neurobiol] and MMP9 [2 Mol Neurobiol] in glioma tissues should be clinically recommended as criteria of glioma grade in department of pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xiangshan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Shunzeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Xingtong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Daotang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ranran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Huihui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongfa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D017594:Publication Bias; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta