title: Abnormal vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression may be correlated with poor prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted the present meta-analysis with relevant cohort studies to determine whether expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor. (VEGF) could predict the prognosis of diffuse large B.cell lymphoma. (DLBCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  The MEDLINE (1966-2013), the Cochrane Library Database (Issue 12, 2013), EMBASE (1980-2013), CINAHL (1982--2013), Web of Science (1945-2013), and the Chinese Biomedical Database (1982-2013) were searched without any language restrictions. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software (Version 12.0, Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas USA). Hazard ratios (HR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight clinical cohort studies, which recruited a total 670 DLBCL patients, were included in the meta-analysis. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that DLBCL patients with positive VEGF expression had a shorter overall survival than those with negative VEGF expression. (HR = 1.58, 95% CI = 0.80-2.36, P < 0.001). Ethnicity-stratified analysis illustrates that high expression levels of VEGF may be significantly correlated with poor DLBCL prognosis among both Caucasian and Asian populations. (Caucasian: HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 0.56-2.90, P = 0.004; Asian: HR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.41-2.50, P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major findings of our meta-analysis reveal that the aberrant expression of VEGF may correspond to shorter overall survival of patients with DLBCL, revealing that VEGF expression could be an unbiased prognostic determinant in the management of DLBCL patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jiang Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yang
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chui-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ai-Chun
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A