Is differential expression of p16INK4a based on the classification of uterine smooth muscle tumors associated with a different prognosis? A meta-analysis.

We conducted a meta-analysis to examine p16INK4a expression in uterine smooth muscle tumors (USMTs). Although the prognostic value of tumor suppressor p16INK4a has been elucidated in a variety of cancers and precancerous lesions, its role in USMTs is not well established. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for publication son p16INK4a expression in USMTs. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were imposed. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of association. Publication bias was estimated using funnel plots and the Egger's regression test. Twelve eligible studies comprising 661 patients were included. Compared with leiomyoma (LM), the figures for the strength of association were as follows: LM variants (RR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.03-2.27, P = 0.036, random effect); leiomyosarcoma (LMS) (RR = 3.20, 95%CI = 1.68-6.12, P < 0.001, random effect); and smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) (RR = 2.90, 95%CI = 1.17-7.21, P = 0.022, random effect). p16INK4a expression was significantly higher in LMS than in LM variants (RR = 3.74, 95%CI = 1.96-7.13, P < 0.001, random effect) or STUMP (RR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.26-2.23, P < 0.001, fixed effect). There was a significant correlation between overexpressed p16INK4a and recurrence rates of USMTs (RR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.11-3.10, P = 0.019, fixed effect). p16INK4a over expression is a potential biomarker for diagnosing problematic USMTs and it might indicate a worse prognosis. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the prognostic value of p16INK4a in USMTs.

Association between the WRAP53 gene rs2287499 C>G polymorphism and cancer risk: A meta-analysis.

The TP53 5'-untranslated region flanking the gene WRAP53 (also known as WDR79 and TCAB1) has been hypothesized to be associated with cancer risk due to its critical function in regulating p53 levels. In this review, we analyzed the association between the WRAP53 gene rs2287499 C>G polymorphism and risk of cancer using five case-control studies, comprising seven datasets. All analyses were performed using RevMan software. In the overall analysis, no significant association between rs2287499 and risk of cancer was found. We then conducted subgroup tests, stratifying the data by cancer type, ethnicity, sample source, and quality score. Only the brain and breast cancer subgroups returned significant results, but with conflicting implications. Our concerns regarding this are discussed in detail. In conclusion, the rs2287499 polymorphism may be associated with risk of cancer. Further studies taking into consideration a broader range of cancer types and different ethnicities are warranted.