title: Tumor vasculogenic mimicry predicts poor prognosis in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the formation of vascular channels by tumor cells or tumor cell-derived, trans-differentiated cells in highly aggressive, solid tumors. However, the disease features and prognostic value of VM for overall survival of cancer patients remain controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  To systematically investigate the roles of VM in cancer progression and its prognostic values, we performed a meta-analysis based on 36 studies (33 eligible articles) including 3609 patients. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were used to assess the relationship between VM and overall survival in cancer patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vasculogenic mimicry was significantly associated with cancer differentiation, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM stage. The prognostic value of VM was significant in overall survival (HR 2.16; 95 % CI 1.98-2.38; P < 0.001). Analyses stratified by confounders, such as cancer type, ethnicity, VM detection methods, sample size, and Newcastle-Ottawa quality score, found similar significant results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of VM predicts poorer survival outcomes in cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemo-Radiotherapy Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: X X
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemo-Radiotherapy Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: L X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Rd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, People's Republic of China. qianchn@sysucc.org.cn.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D017594:Publication Bias; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: Angiogenesis; Meta-analysis; Solid tumor; Survival; Vasculogenic mimicry