Prognostic value of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in digestive system cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Cancer
; 23(1): 1248, 2023 Dec 18.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38110876
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Existing literature suggests that tertiary lymphatic structure (TLS) is associated with the progression of cancer. However, the prognostic role of TLS in digestive system cancers remains controversial. This meta-analysis aims to synthesize currently available evidence in the association between TLS and the survival of digestive system cancers.METHODS:
We systematically searched three digital databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) for articles published from database inception to December 23, 2022. Study selection criteria are based on PECO framework P (population patients with digestive system cancers), E (exposure presence of TLS), C (comparator absence of TLS), O (outcome:
overall survival, OS; recurrence-free survival, RFS; disease-free survival, DFS). The Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool was used to assess risk of bias for included studies. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023416307).RESULTS:
A total of 25 studies with 6910 patients were included into the final meta-analysis. Random-effects models revealed that the absence of TLS was associated with compromised OS, RFS, and DFS of digestive system cancers, with pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.74 (95% CI 1.50-2.03), 1.96 (95% CI 1.58-2.44), and 1.81 (95% CI 1.49-2.19), respectively. Subgroup analyses disclosed a stronger TLS-survival association for pancreatic cancer, compared with other digestive system cancers.CONCLUSION:
TLS may be of prognostic significance for digestive system cancers. More original studies are needed to further corroborate this finding.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Digestive System Neoplasms
/
Tertiary Lymphoid Structures
/
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Type of study:
Systematic_reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Cancer
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China
Country of publication:
United kingdom