title: Association between mesothelin expression and survival outcomes in patients with triple-negative breast cancer: a protocol for a systematic review.
abstract: Mesothelin is a membrane-bound glycoprotein. Although the biologic function of mesothelin is not very clear, researchers have found that it plays a role in the survival, proliferation, and migration of tumor cells. Identified as a tumor-associated biomarker, mesothelin is more often overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) than in common luminal breast tumor subtype or normal tissues. The objective of this review is to determine the association between the expression of mesothelin and overall survival in patients with TNBC.
  
  
  
  We will search the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, and Web of Science with no time or language restriction. Prospective or retrospective longitudinal studies that investigate mesothelin expression in TNBC or the prognosis of TNBC with mesothelin baseline measurement will be selected. Two reviewers will independently assess every abstract or full text for inclusion. Data on clinical outcomes, as well as on study design, research setting, study population, demographic characteristics of the participants, and methodological quality, will be extracted using a structured codebook developed by the authors. A pooled measure of associations will be assessed through meta-analyses if appropriate. Heterogeneity across the included studies will be evaluated using the I (2) statistics. Findings will be reported according to the Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The quality of evidence and risk of bias of the studies will be evaluated.
  
  
  
  The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence regarding the association between the expression of mesothelin and the survival outcomes of patients with TNBC. A better understanding of the expression frequency and prognostic value of mesothelin in TNBC will be essential to identifying a novel therapeutic target.
  
  
  
  PROSPERO CRD42016036212.
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Aihua
authors: A
authors: Li
authors: Dundas Valley Secondary School, Hamilton, Canada.
authors: Guangwen
authors: G
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada.|Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, 3rd floor Martha Wing, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, L8N 4A6, ON, Canada.|Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Mbuagbaw
authors: General Surgery, Juravinski Hospital, 711 Concession St. E, Hamilton, L8V 1C3, ON, Canada.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Reid
authors: Department of Surgery, Surgical Outcomes Research Centre, McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, ON, L8N 4A6, Canada.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Lovrics
authors: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada. thabanl@mcmaster.ca.|Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare, 3rd floor Martha Wing, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, L8N 4A6, ON, Canada. thabanl@mcmaster.ca.|Department of Pediatrics and Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. thabanl@mcmaster.ca.|Centre for Evaluation of Medicine, St Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada. thabanl@mcmaster.ca.|Hamilton Health Sciences, Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada. thabanl@mcmaster.ca.
authors: Lehana
authors: L
authors: Thabane
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D000090204:Mesothelin; D011379:Prognosis; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D000090204:Mesothelin
keywords: Mesothelin; Meta-analysis; Survival; Systematic review; Triple-negative breast cancer