title: Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of miR-21 in renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common neoplasm in adult kidneys. One of the most important unmet medical needs in RCC is a prognostic biomarker to enable identification of patients at high risk of relapse after nephrectomy. New biomarkers can help improve diagnosis and hence the management of patients with renal cancer. Thus, this systematic review aims to clarify the prognostic and diagnostic accuracy of miR-21 in patients with RCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We will include observational studies evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic roles of miR-21 in patients with renal cancer. The index test and reference standards should ideally be performed on all patients. We will search PubMed, SCOPUS and ISI Web of Science with no restriction of language. The outcome will be survival measures in adult patients with RCC. Study selection and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers. QUADAS-1 will be used to assess study quality. Publication bias and data synthesis will be assessed by funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests using Stata software V.11.1.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  No ethical issues are predicted. These findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This systematic review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, registration number CRD42015025001.
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arezoo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasti
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mehrazma
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Pathology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madjd
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences Education Development, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Keshtkar
authors.affiliation: Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Raheleh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babashah
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; ONCOLOGY