title: Prognostic value of cancer stem cell marker CD133 expression in esophageal carcinoma: A meta-analysis.
abstract: CD133 has been identified as a putative neoplastic stem cell marker in esophageal carcinoma. However, the prognostic value of CD133 overexpression in patients with esophageal carcinoma remains controversial. A meta-analysis of previous studies was performed, in order to assess the association of CD133 overexpression with the clinicopathological characteristics of esophageal carcinoma patients. A total of 7 studies, including 538 patients, were subjected to the final analysis. Our results indicated that a positive CD133 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis [odds ratio (OR)=3.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.93-4.95; P<0.00001], clinical stage (OR=4.26, 95% CI: 1.55-11.73; P=0.005) and histopathological grade (OR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.16-4.94; P=0.02). There was no statistically significant association of CD133 with depth of invasion (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 0.42-8.43; P=0.41). Based on the results of this study, we concluded that CD133 is an efficient prognostic factor in esophageal carcinoma. Higher CD133 expression is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and histopathological grade.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Yun-Peng
authors: YP
authors: Sui
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Xue-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Jian
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: L I
authors: LI
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Gui-Zhen
authors: GZ
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Huai-Wei
authors: HW
authors: Liao
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Yan-Ping
authors: YP
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China.
authors: Hui-Cai
authors: HC
authors: Wen
keywords: CD133; cancer stem cells; clinicopathological characteristics; esophageal carcinoma; meta-analysis; prognosis