Advancing gastrointestinal cancer diagnostics: a systematic review and meta-analysis of circulating microRNA-1246 as a non-invasive biomarker.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous reports on the alterations of microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) expression level in digestive system cancers, its role in gastrointestinal cancers (GICs) remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the diagnostic potential of circulating miR-1246 in GICs. METHODS: Meta-disc version 1.4 and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) version 3.7 software were used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), area under the curve (AUC), Q*index and summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC). Subgroup analyses were conducted for cancer type, sample type and geographical region. Publication bias was assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests. RESULTS: A total of 14 articles involving 18 studies and 1526 participants (972 cases and 554 controls) were included. The diagnostic accuracy of miRNA-1246 in GICs was as follows pooled sensitivity 0.81 (95% CI 0.79 - 0.83), specificity 0.74 (95% CI 0.71 - 0.77), PLR 3.315 (95% CI 2.33 - 4.72), NLR 0.221 (95% CI 0.153 - 0.319), DOR 16.87 (95% CI 9.45 - 30.09), AUC 0.891, and Q*-index 0.807. No publication bias was found based on Begg's (p = 0.172) and Egger's (p = 0.113) tests. CONCLUSION: Circulating miR-1246 shows promise as a non-invasive biomarker for early detection of GICs.