title: Prognostic role of STAT3 in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Accumulated studies have provided controversial evidences of the association between signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins 3 (STAT3) expression and survival of human solid tumors. To address this inconsistency, we performed a meta-analysis with 63 studies identified from PubMed, Medline and EBSCO. We found STAT3 overexpression was significantly associated with worse 3-year overall survival (OS) (OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.57 to 2.71, P < 0.00001) and 5-year OS (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.53 to 2.63, P < 0.00001) of human solid tumors. Similar results were observed when disease free survival (DFS) were analyzed. Subgroup analysis showed that elevated STAT3 expression was associated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer, lung cancer, gliomas, hepatic cancer, osteosarcoma, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer but better prognosis of breast cancer. The correlation between STAT3 and survival of solid tumors was related to its phosphorylated state. High expression level of STAT3 was also associated with advanced tumor stage. In conclusion, elevated STAT3 expression is associated with poor survival in most solid tumors. STAT3 is a valuable biomarker for prognosis prediction and a promising therapeutic target in human solid tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.|Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Pin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.|Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Dang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Lufeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Lijian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.|Cancer Institute, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor
keywords: STAT3; disease free survival; overall survival; prognosis; solid tumors