title: Prognostic significance of pretreated serum lactate dehydrogenase level in nasopharyngeal carcinoma among Chinese population: A meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A large number of studies have investigated the prognostic value of pretreated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients while the role of it was inconsistent and inconclusive. Hence, the aim of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis of all published studies to quantify the prognostic impact of pretreated serum LDH in NPC for Chinese population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to conduct a meta-analysis of all published studies to quantify the prognostic impact of pretreated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) for Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies that assessed survival outcome and LDH in NPC. Overall survival (OS) was the primary survival outcome. Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were secondary outcomes. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs), associated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), were combined to calculate overall effects. The Cochran Q and I statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. When apparent heterogeneity was observed, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed to explore its origin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen studies, which included 14,803 patients, were enrolled in the current meta-analysis to yield statistics. Overall, the pooled HR for OS in 11 eligible studies with high LDH level was 1.79 (95% CI = 1.47-2.12), and the pooled HR for DMFS in 9 eligible studies with high LDH level was 1.85 (95% CI = 1.48-2.22). Meanwhile, the pooled HR for DFS in 5 eligible studies with high LDH level was 1.63 (95% CI = 1.34-1.91). Egger test and funnel plots revealed that the publication bias in the current meta-analysis was insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis demonstrated that high pretreated LDH level is significantly associated with poorer OS, DMFS, and DFS, suggesting that pretreated LDH could sever as a prognostic factor in NPC among Chinese population.
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University Key Laboratory of Radiation Biology (Fujian Medical University), Fujian Province University Fujian Key Laboratory of Individualized Active Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
authors: Mingwei
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Shushan
authors: S
authors: Wei
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Su
authors: Wenlong
authors: W
authors: Lv
authors: Jinsheng
authors: J
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D002681:China; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase