title: Prognostic significance of STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3 in tumor: a meta-analysis of literatures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prognostic value of the expression of STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3 on survival for cancer patients remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of the published literature in this field to identify its impact.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of 26 studies (n=3877 patients) that evaluated the relationship between the prognostic value and the expression of STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3 in 15 different kinds of carcinomas. Studies evaluated the correlation between STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3, which detected mostly by immunohistochemistry and western blot, and clinical staging, overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were included. The impact of STAT3 and phosphorylated-STAT3 was analyzed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 studies (14 for STAT3 and 16 for phosphorylated-STAT3), comprising 3877 patients, were included for meta-analysis. The expression of STAT3 was strongly associated with a poor impact on overall survival (OS) in all eligible studies [hazard ratio (HR)=2.91, (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-4.42)], while a significant association was shown between the expression of phosphorylated-STAT3 and patients' outcome [HR=1.53, (95% CI, 0.86-2.70)]. No significant effect was shown between the expression of STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3 and clinical staging, neither with DFS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High expression of STAT3 seems to be associated with poor OS in patients with carcinomas, while phosphorylated-STAT3 does not.
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Hongyu
authors: H
authors: Kong
authors: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medicine School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC ; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Qiongwen
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Yunhui
authors: Y
authors: Zeng
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Mengqian
authors: M
authors: Wu
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Tianying
authors: T
authors: Zheng
authors: Clinical Medicine (Eight-Year Program), West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Yanzhang
authors: Y
authors: Zeng
authors: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medicine School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC ; State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC.
authors: Huashan
authors: H
authors: Shi
keywords: Meta-analysis; STAT3/phosphorylated-STAT3; prognosis; tumor