title: Prognostic value of transforming growth factor-beta in patients with colorectal cancer who undergo surgery: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is associated with a higher incidence of distant metastasis and decreased survival. Whether TGF-β can be used as a prognostic indicator of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial.
  
  
  
  The Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched from their inception to March 2016. The studies that focused on TGF-β as a prognostic factor in patients with CRC were included in this analysis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analysed separately. A meta-analysis was performed, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.
  
  
  
  Twelve studies were included in the analysis, of which 8 were used for OS and 7 for DFS. In all, 1622 patients with CRC undergoing surgery were included. Combined HRs suggested that high expression of TGF-β had a favourable impact on OS (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.10-2.59) and DFS (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19) in CRC patients. For OS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.50 (95% CI: 0.61-3.68) and 1.80 (95% CI: 1.33-2.45), respectively. For DFS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.42 (95% CI: 0.61-3.31) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03-1.20), respectively.
  
  
  
  This meta-analysis demonstrates that TGF-β can be used as a prognostic biomarker for CRC patients undergoing surgery, especially for CRC patients from Western countries.
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhuo-Qun
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shui-Lian
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Wen
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xu-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: School of Basic Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. sabiston@126.com.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China. liufb163@163.com.
authors.forename: Feng-Bin
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
keywords: Colorectal cancer; Meta-analysis; Prognosis; TGF-β; Transforming growth factor-beta