Affiliations: [a] State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan, China | [b] Department of Medical Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China | [c] Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Xiao Du, West China Hospital, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. Tel.: +86 28 854 22872; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway has recently been
reported to be associated with the prognosis of digestive system cancers.
However, the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between
Hh pathway components and survival outcomes in patients with digestive
system cancers. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive retrieval in PubMed, EMBASE
and Cochrane library for relevant literatures until May 1st, 2015. The
pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and disease-free
survival (DFS) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to
clarify the prognostic value of Hh pathway components, including Shh, Gli1,
Gli2, Smo and Ptch1. RESULTS: A total of 16 eligible articles with 3222 patients were
included in the meta-analysis. Pooled HR suggested that over-expression of
Shh and Gli1 were both associated with poor OS (HR = 1.87, 95% CI:
1.14-3.07 and HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.66-2.32, respectively) and DFS (HR = 2.37,
95% CI: 1.19-4.72 and HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.61-2.96, respectively). In
addition, over-expression of Smo was associated with poor DFS (HR = 1.38,
95% CI: 1.08-1.75). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that over-expressed Hh pathway
components, including Shh, Gli1 and Smo, are associated with poor prognosis
in digestive system cancer patients. Hh signaling pathway may become a
potential therapeutic target in digestive system cancers.
Keywords: Hedgehog signaling pathway, digestive system cancers, meta-analysis, prognosis
