CD44 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer: Systematic Review, IHC-based Meta-Analysis, and Pathway Analysis Highlight a Favorable Clinicopathological Association.
Stella Marleen, Muhammad Husni Cangara, Upik Anderiani Miskad, Prihantono Prihantono
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Abstract
Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide with its highest incidence in Asia. Tobacco, alcohol, and HPV contribute to this phenomenon. CD44 has been found to have a mechanistic role in tumorigenicity and metastasis, however current literature shows conflicting evidence regarding its role in HNC. This review attempts to synthesize available studies to clarify its clinicopathological significance.
Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane, and the Directory of Open Access Journals for studies comparing clinicopathological features between immunohistochemically assessed CD44 expression levels. Meta-analysis was conducted utilizing Review Manager 5.4. Further subgroup analysis was conducted based on the CD44 expression quantification method.
Results: Nine studies, representing 484 patients, were included in the final analysis. An association between CD44 expression and histopathological grading (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25-0.84) was found. Gender, survival, lymph node involvement, and perineural invasion were not found to be predicted by CD44.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that CD44 expression is associated with histopathological grading in HNC. However, survival, lymph node involvement, and perineural invasion are found to be independent of CD44 expression.
期刊介绍：
Cancer is a very complex disease. While many aspects of carcinoge-nesis and oncogenesis are known, cancer control and prevention at the community level is however still in its infancy. Much more work needs to be done and many more steps need to be taken before effective strategies are developed. The multidisciplinary approaches and efforts to understand and control cancer in an effective and efficient manner, require highly trained scientists in all branches of the cancer sciences, from cellular and molecular aspects to patient care and palliation.
The Asia Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention (APOCP) and its official publication, the Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (APJCP), have served the community of cancer scientists very well and intends to continue to serve in this capacity to the best of its abilities. One of the objectives of the APOCP is to provide all relevant and current scientific information on the whole spectrum of cancer sciences. They aim to do this by providing a forum for communication and propagation of original and innovative research findings that have relevance to understanding the etiology, progression, treatment, and survival of patients, through their journal. The APJCP with its distinguished, diverse, and Asia-wide team of editors, reviewers, and readers, ensure the highest standards of research communication within the cancer sciences community across Asia as well as globally.
The APJCP publishes original research results under the following categories:
-Epidemiology, detection and screening.
-Cellular research and bio-markers.
-Identification of bio-targets and agents with novel mechanisms of action.
-Optimal clinical use of existing anti-cancer agents, including combination therapies.
-Radiation and surgery.
-Palliative care.
-Patient adherence, quality of life, satisfaction.
-Health economic evaluations.
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