title: Stromal Myofibroblasts Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Solid Cancers: A Meta-Analysis of Published Studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Published studies have evaluated the impact of stromal myofibroblasts on prognosis in solid cancers. However, the results of these studies remain controversial. We therefore performed a meta-analysis to address this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Embase databases were searched through November 30th, 2015 by two investigators, and a total of 17 studies that contained 2606 patients were included. Stromal myofibroblasts were quantified in solid cancers using α-smooth muscle actin staining. Pooled Odds Ratio with 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated, and publication bias was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study suggest that in solid cancers, a high density of stromal myofibroblasts is significantly associated with poor 3- and 5-year overall survival (pooled odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.33 (1.10-1.60) for 3-year overall survival and 1.68 (1.22-2.32) for 5-year overall survival). In addition, a high density of stromal myofibroblasts also predicted poor 3- and 5-year disease-free survival (1.30 (1.05-1.60) for 3-year disease-free survival and 1.36 (1.01-1.83) for 5-year disease-free survival). However, stromal myofibroblasts were not associated with 3- and 5-year cancer-specific survival. No publication bias was found for all analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that a high density of stromal myofibroblasts is associated with poor survival in solid cancers. More studies were required to investigate the prognostic value of stromal myofibroblasts in different types of solid cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Han Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhong Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, An Hui Provincial Hospital affiliated with the An Hui Medical University, He Fei, An Hui Province, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: C541116:ACTA2 protein, human; D000199:Actins