Clinical and prognostic role of Vasohibin-1 expression in solid tumors: An evidence from a meta-analysis

Abstract Background The role of Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) expression in solid tumors remains controversial. We thus performed this meta-analysis to elucidate the associations between VASH1 expression and the prognosis of solid tumors. Methods We searched relevant literature in PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE. The hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured by fixed-effects or random-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's regression test. Results The results showed that VASH1 expression exhibited a significantly decreased overall survival (OS) time (HR = 1.85; 95% Cl = 1.27–2.69) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.80; 95% Cl = 1.41–2.29) time. Meanwhile, VASH1 expression was found significantly associated with TNM stage (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.57–2.46), tumor stage (OR = 2.35; 95% CI = 1.88–2.93), lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.37–2.98), venous invasion (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.00-2.65), tumor grade (OR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.13–2.67) and microvessel density (MVD) (OR = 4.30; 95% CI = 2.31–8.03). However, no significant association was found between the VASH1 expression and distant metastasis (OR = 1.81; 95% Cl = 0.74–1.41). Conclusion This study demonstrated that VASH1 expression was relevant to more aggressive clinicopathological parameters and might predict inferior DFS and OS in solid tumor patients.