Title:Gastric Cancer and Circulating microRNAs: An Updated Systematic
Review and Diagnostic Meta-Analysis
Volume: 30
Issue: 33
Author(s): Amir Hossein Aalami, Farnoosh Aalami and Amirhossein Sahebkar*
Affiliation:
- Applied
Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad,
Iran
- School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Pharmacy,
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Keywords:
Gastric cancer, circulating miRNAs, diagnosis, biomarker, meta-analysis, non-invasive diagnostic indicators.
Abstract:
Background: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are now used as noninvasive
diagnostic indicators in various malignancies.
Objective: Our objective is to use a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of
circulating miRNAs in gastric cancer.
Methods: We reviewed databases and methodically obtained papers for analysis until October
15th, 2021. The random-effect meta-analysis was performed to construct pooled diagnostic
parameters. To detect the causes of heterogeneity, spearman threshold effect
analysis and subgroup analysis were performed. The I2 and Chi-square tests were also
used to examine the heterogeneity. The subgroup analyses were conducted based on sample
types (serum/plasma/blood), normalized genes (U6, miR-16, and miR-39), qPCR mastermix
(SYBR and Taqman), and country. Finally, the publication bias was estimated using
Egger's funnel plot asymmetry test.
Results: A total of 40 articles covering 73 studies (59 microRNAs) were included, containing
11,022 participants (6,324 cases and 4,698 controls). The overall pooled sensitivity,
specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic
odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.74-0.77),
0.79 (95% CI: 0.78-0.80), 4.081 (95% CI: 3.43-4.85), 0.28 (95% CI: 0.25-0.32), 16.08
(95% CI: 12.34-20.95), and 0.877 (CI: 0.84-0.90), respectively. We conducted a subgroup
analysis of diagnostic values, which revealed that serum type, U6 reference gene,
SYBR mastermix, and East Asian Countries (China and Japan) had better diagnostic value.
Conclusion: Circulating miRs can serve as diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer.
However, specific miRNAs still need to be discovered in diagnosing gastric cancer, especially
early screening.