The prognostic and clinicopathologic characteristics of CD147 and esophagus cancer: A meta-analysis (Publication with Expression of Concern)

Objective The prognostic significance of CD147 expression in esophageal cancer patients remains controversial. Using a meta-analysis, we investigated the prognostic and clinicopathologic characteristics of CD147 in esophageal cancer. Methods A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed (1966-2016), EMBASE (1980-2016), Cochrane Library (1996-2016), Web of Science (1945-2016), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (1982-2016), and Wanfang databases (1988-2016) was performed to identify studies of all esophageal cancer subtypes. Correlations between CD147 expression and survival outcomes and clinicopathological features were analyzed using meta-analysis methods. Results Seventeen studies were included. High CD147 expression reduced the 3-year survival rate (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = (1.53, 6.93), p = 0.02) and 5-year survival rate(OR = 4.35, 95% CI = (2.13, 8.90), p < 0.0001). High CD147 expression reduced overall survival in esophageal cancer (HR = 1.60, 95% CI = (1.19, 2.15), p = 0.02). Additionally, higher CD147 expression was detected in esophageal cancer tissues than noncancerous tissues (OR = 9.45, 95% CI = (5.39, 16.59), p < 0.00001), normal tissues (OR = 12.73, 95% CI = (3.49, 46.46), p = 0.0001), para-carcinoma tissues (OR = 12.80, 95% CI = (6.57, 24.92), p < 0.00001), and hyperplastic tissues (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = (1.47, 7.29), p = 0.004). CD147 expression was associated with TNM stage (OR = 3.66, 95% CI = (2.20, 6.09), p < 0.00001), tumor depth (OR = 7.97, 95% CI = (4.13, 15.38), p < 0.00001), and lymph node status (OR = 5.14, 95% CI = (2.03,13.01), p = 0.0005), but not with tumor differentiation, age, or sex. Conclusion Our meta-analysis suggests that CD147 is an efficient prognostic factor in esophageal cancer. High CD147 expression in patients with esophageal cancer was associated with worse survival outcomes and common clinicopathological indicators of poor prognosis.