BACKGROUND The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) is expressed in solid malignant tumors. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine whether expression of the lncRNA SNHG1 was associated with prognosis in patients with malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature review from Jan 1970 to July 2018 identified publications in the English language. Databases searched included: PubMed, OVID, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database, Embase, EBSCO, Google Scholar. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) assessment tool for risk of bias was used. RESULTS Eight publications (570 patients) and eight solid tumors were identified, including osteosarcoma, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, ovarian cancer, glioma, and gastric cancer. Meta-analysis showed that expression of the lncRNA SNHG1 was significantly correlated with reduced overall survival (OS) (HR=1.917; 95% CI, 1.58-2.31) (P<0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that lncRNA SNHG1 expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage (OR=3.99; 95% CI, 2.48-6.43) and lymph node metastasis (OR=3.12; 95% CI, 1.95-4.98). There were no significant correlations between lncRNA SNHG1 expression and patient gender, tumor subtype, or tumor size. CONCLUSIONS Systematic literature review and meta-analysis identified eight publications that included 570 patients with eight types of solid malignant tumor, and showed that the expression of the lncRNA SNHG1 was significantly associated with worse clinical outcome.

The correlation between miR-200 family overexpression and cancer prognosis remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc (CBM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) to identify eligible studies. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the correlations. Additionally, different subgroup analyses and publication bias test were performed. Eventually, we analyzed 23 articles that included five tumor types and 3038 patients. Consequently, high expression of miR-200 family in various tumors was associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) in both univariate (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.14-1.54, P < 0.001) and multivariate (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.16-1.49, P < 0.001) analyses. Likewise, a similar result was found in different subgroups of the patient source, cancer type, test method, sample source, miR-200 component, and sample size. However, no association of miR-200 family was detected with recurrence- or relapse-free survival (RFS) (univariate: HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.96-1.09, P = 0.47; multivariate: HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.00-1.14, P = 0.07), progression-free survival (PFS) (univariate: HR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.54-1.70, P = 0.88; multivariate: HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.86-1.61, P = 0.32), and disease-free survival (DFS) (univariate: HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74-1.09, P = 0.29; multivariate: HR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.68-1.41, P = 0.90). Our findings have provided convincing evidence that miR-200 family overexpression suggested poor prognosis of various cancer types, which efforts may raise the potential use of miR-200 family for cancer prognosis in clinical practice.

To identify the most suitable genetic model for detecting the risk of breast cancer (BC)/ovarian cancer (OC) in specific populations.

Gemistocytic astrocytomas (GA) are a variant of diffuse astrocytomas GII (WHO, 2016). Like all diffuse astrocytomas, GA recur with time, which is often accompanied by malignant degeneretion into the anaplastic astrocytoma GIII or to the secondary glioblastoma GIV. However, the progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with GA is less than in patients with diffuse astrocytomas. Given that this group of patients, according to the WHO classification (2016), is classified as GII, patients with GA usually do not receive comprehensive treatment. We have conducted a thorough analysis of research on this problem for the period from 1956 to 2017. Differences in the histological pattern, immunohistochemical and molecular-genetic profiles, survival of patients with GA and diffuse astrocytomas GII are shown there. A clinical case of a patient with transformation of a diffuse astrocytoma in GA (GIII) and then into a secondary glioblastoma is presented.

Combining CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy (ET) improved outcomes for the treatment of metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancers. Here, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to better define the benefit and the risk of CDK4/6 inhibitors plus ET for endocrine-sensitive or endocrine-resistant population in metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearranged (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have a higher risk of developing brain metastases (BMs) than patients with other NSCLC sub-types. ALK inhibitors have activity in BMs due to ALK+ NSCLC. We performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim of assessing the efficacy of ALK inhibitors on BMs.

Notch1 expression remains controversial on digestive tract cancers. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the clinicopathological significance of Notch1 expression in individuals with digestive tract cancers, mainly involving esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), gastric cancer (GC), pancreatic cancer (PC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

In September 2017, the US FDA announced re-approval of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO), a CD33-targeting immunoconjugate, for treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is a very significant step toward defining new treatment regimens in AML, as the treatment has essentially stayed unchanged with the '7 + 3 induction regimen' (7 days cytarabine and 3 days of anthracycline) since 1973. GO is the first antibody-drug conjugate to receive FDA approval for treating cancer. This review article discusses the challenges faced and lessons learned during the journey of GO for AML treatment. Selected trials that have made significant contribution in our understanding of the most efficacious and safe use of GO for treating AML patients as well as factors influencing GO response are highlighted in this article.

MicroRNAs(miRNAs) are involved in the formation, maintenance, and metastasis of urologic cancer. Here, we aim to gather and evaluate all of the evidence regarding the potential role of miRNAs as novel predictors of urologic cancer survival.

Transgender men or Female-to-Male (FtM) patients' risk of breast cancer and screening recommendations remain unclear. The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review of the literature and document all reported cases of FtM breast cancer as well as provide research recommendations. Following PRISMA guidelines, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from inception until September 15, 2016. Screening and data extraction were performed in duplicate by two independent reviewers (RH and JS). Study quality was assessed using a component-based system. Study characteristics, patient demographics, breast cancer characteristics, presentation and management are reported. Eight articles met inclusion criteria representing 17 transgender men with breast cancer. Median age at diagnosis was 44.5 years. Breast cancer types included: 8 invasive ductal carcinomas, two tubular carcinomas and seven unrecorded. Twelve of the 14 known hormone status tumours were estrogen receptor positive (85.7%), of which nine were also progesterone positive. The most common was breast lump (n = 6) and four patients had local regional or distant disease at presentation. Management was reported for ten patients: six patients underwent mastectomy (60.0%), three radiation (30.0%), and five chemotherapy (50.0%). Breast cancer is present in transgender men and the risk is dependent on top surgery; those with top surgery appear to be lower risk than natal females. More longitudinal studies and better population data are required to contribute to evidence-based screening recommendations.

The effect of methotrexate (MTX)-related adverse reaction on hematologic neoplasms patients is controversial. We performed this meta-analysis to assess the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T/A1298C polymorphism and the adverse reaction after MTX using.

Increasing studies have investigated the prognostic value of high miR-21 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with inconsistent results. We conducted this meta-analysis to explore whether the expression of miR-21 was associated with prognosis in NSCLC patients.

BCL-2 Associated X (BAX) is an important modulator of apoptosis. The associations between BAX gene polymorphism and cancer susceptibility and prognosis in different ethnic groups and types of cancer have yielded controversial results. To reconcile the results, a systematic review followed by meta-analysis was performed to assess the associations.

The malignant neoplasm of the cervix, cervical cancer, has effects on the reproductive tract. Although infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus is essential for cervical cancer development, it alone is insufficient to explain the development of cervical cancer. Therefore, other risk factors such as host genetic factors should be identified, and their importance in cervical cancer induction should be determined. Although gene expression profiling studies in the last decade have made significant molecular findings about cervical cancer, adequate screening and effective treatment strategies have yet to be achieved. In the current study, meta-analysis was performed on cervical cancer-associated transcriptome data and reporter biomolecules were identified at RNA (mRNA, miRNA), protein (receptor, transcription factor, etc.), and metabolite levels by the integration of gene expression profiles with genome-scale biomolecular networks. This approach revealed already-known biomarkers, tumor suppressors and oncogenes in cervical cancer as well as various receptors (e.g. ephrin receptors EPHA4, EPHA5, and EPHB2; endothelin receptors EDNRA and EDNRB; nuclear receptors NCOA3, NR2C1, and NR2C2), miRNAs (e.g., miR-192-5p, miR-193b-3p, and miR-215-5p), transcription factors (particularly E2F4, ETS1, and CUTL1), other proteins (e.g., KAT2B, PARP1, CDK1, GSK3B, WNK1, and CRYAB), and metabolites (particularly, arachidonic acids) as novel biomarker candidates and potential therapeutic targets. The differential expression profiles of all reporter biomolecules were cross-validated in independent RNA-Seq and miRNA-Seq datasets, and the prognostic power of several reporter biomolecules, including KAT2B, PCNA, CD86, miR-192-5p and miR-215-5p was also demonstrated. In this study, we reported valuable data for further experimental and clinical efforts, because the proposed biomolecules have significant potential as systems biomarkers for screening or therapeutic purposes in cervical carcinoma.

Noninvasive and accurate modality to predict isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant glioma may have great potential in routine clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for prediction of IDH mutant glioma and provide an optimal cutoff value for 2HG.

In this study, we systematically investigated and analyzed articles focusing on the prognostic value of E-cadherin (E-cad) in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

To evaluate the imaging features of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant glioma and to assess the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prediction of IDH mutation in patients with glioma.

O6-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status has been reported as a prognostic biomarker in clinical trials.

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their efficacy and safety remain controversial. We sought to comprehensively aggregate and evaluate the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of the combination treatment with CHM and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in NSCLC patients. Our exhausted and systematical searching strategy yielded 64 related randomized controlled trials involving 4384 patients. Compared with EGFR-TKIs therapy alone, meta-analysis showed significant differences favoring the combination treatment in progression-free survival ([Formula: see text]), median survival time ([Formula: see text]), one-year survival rate ([Formula: see text]), two-year survival rate ([Formula: see text]), probability of severe toxicities ([Formula: see text]), objective response rate ([Formula: see text]), Karnofsky performance status ([Formula: see text]), and improvement in percentage of CD3[Formula: see text] T lymphocyte ([Formula: see text]) and CD4[Formula: see text] T lymphocyte ([Formula: see text]). Though these results require further confirmation, they are prone to show a potential therapeutic value of CHM in improving the clinical effect, overcoming the drug resistance and toxicities as an adjunctive therapy to EGFR-TKIs.

Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been reported to predict outcomes in patients with various types of cancer. However, its prognostic value in patients with breast cancer is not well established still now. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the prognostic role of cfDNA in breast cancer patients.