Mobile Health Interventions for Improving Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of different mHealth interventions in increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. Methods: A literature search for eligible studies was done in ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, and Scopus in October 2020. Included studies were randomized controlled trials done on adults due for CRC screening, who received either an mHealth intervention to promote screening or usual care. The primary outcome from these studies was completion of CRC screening. Two reviewers independently worked on selecting studies, collecting data, and determining risk of bias. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for CRC screening rates were summarized into a Forest plot. Results: A total of ten trials from three continents were included in the qualitative analysis. Risk of bias is low in terms of randomization, but high in terms of participant blinding, due to the nature of the interventions. Meta-analysis of four trials showed low clinical and statistical heterogeneity (I2=0%). Overall, the use of mHealth interventions is associated with higher CRC screening uptake when compared to usual care (AOR 1.33; 95% CI, 1.20-1.46). This effect was seen across different types of mHealth interventions, which included automated and non-automated telephone education and text-message reminders. Conclusion: This study showed that mHealth is associated with increased CRC screening participation regardless of the type of intervention used.     

Cytokines as Prognostic Biomarkers of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: The value of cytokines as epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) prognostic factors has been widely investigated. This study aimed to determine the role of single cytokine as a biomarker prognosis in EOC. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting cytokine as the prognostic predictor in EOC based on PRISMA guideline. We included English articles investigating associations of preoperative cytokines level in tissue, blood or ascites with overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) from PUBMED and EBSCO. Summary hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Fifty studies investigating twenty types of cytokines in tumor tissue, serum, and ascites from 5,376 patients were included. Pre-operative high VEGF level was associated with poor OS (HR 2.28, 95%CI [1.28, 3.28]) and DFS (HR 2.13, 95%CI [1.63, 2.78]) in serum and OS (HR 1.80, 95%CI [1.45, 2.23]) in tissue. IL-6 level in blood was associated with DFS (HR 1.60, 95%CI [1.21, 2.11]). There was no single cytokine which investigated by at least 2 studies reporting hazard ratio in ascites, so we did not conduct the meta-analysis. Other cytokines (serum IL-8; ascites fluid IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ, TNF-α; and ovarian tissue TGF-α, CSF-1, IL-10 ,TGF-β1, IL-17) associated with the poorer prognosis, could not be pooled due to lack of studies. Conclusion: Pre-operative VEGF level in serum and tissue specimen seem to be the potential candidate of an unfavorable prognostic biomarker for EOC. The evidence was lacking to support the other cytokines investigated in blood, tissue and ascites as prognostic biomarkers for EOC.     

Prognostic Value of NRAS Gene for Survival of Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: NRAS gene is associated with malignant proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).But its prognostic value on CRC is still unknown. The objective of this study is to perform a meta-analysis to obtainits prognostic value on survival of CRC patients. Methods: The systematic review and meta-analysis was designed,undertaken and reported using items from the PRISMA statement. Relevant articles were identified through PubMed(containing Medline), Embase, Web of Science databases and Google scholar search engines from their inception up toOctober 3, 2016. The articles about NRAS on prognosis of CRC patients were enrolled. The association between NRASand CRC survival time (including overall survival [OS], progression-free survival [PFS], and disease-free survival[DFS]) was evaluated using hazard ratio (HR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A totalof fifteen articles were included. High-expression of NRAS was significantly associated with poor OS (HR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.15–1.61), and poor PFS (HR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.04–2.94). The combined HR of NRAS on DFS was 0.87 (95% CI:0.37–2.03). Subgroup analysis showed that NRAS was significantly associated with poor OS for patients from Westerncountries (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.09–1.73), but not for those from Asian countries. Conclusions: This meta-analysisdemonstrate that NRAS gene could predict the poor prognosis for the CRC patients. More large-sample cohort studiesare needed to further confirm this conclusion.     

Survival Rate of Colorectal Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Different studies have been conducted to estimate the survival rate of colorectal cancer in Iran butthere is no overall estimate of the survival rate. The aim of this study was to calculate the pooled 1, 3, and 5-year survivalrate of the patients with colorectal cancer in Iran. Methods: To retrieve relevant studies, we conducted a systematicsearch in Iranian databases, including Iran Medex, Magiran, SID, and international databases such as Medlin/PubMed,Scopus, and Google scholar using “Colorectal Neoplasms” and “Survival Rate” as keywords up to December 1st, 2017.We used random effect model to estimate pooled 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates of the patients with colorectal cancerin Iran. To assess the heterogeneity, we used Chi-squared test at the 5 % significance level (p <0.05) and I2 Index. Weused meta-regression and subgroup analysis to find a potential source of heterogeneity. Results: After a systematicsearch, 196 articles were found, of the 38 studies met the eligibility criteria and are included in our meta-analysis. Thepooled 1, 3, and 5-year survival rates in patient with colorectal cancer were 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81-0.87), 0.64 (95%CI:0.59-0.70), and 0.54 (95%CI: 0.49-0.58) respectively. The 5-year survival rate in the subgroup of women was 0.5(0.44-0.56) and in male subgroup was 0.44 (0.40-0.48). In a subgroup of the tumor site, the 5-year survival rate in coloncancer was 0.6 (0.49-0.75) and rectum cancer was 0.54 (0.36-0.69). In multivariable models, there was a significantassociation between years of study and 5-year survival rate as a source of heterogeneity (β = 18.9, P=0.01). Conclusion:According to the results of this study, women had a better survival rate than men, and according to the tumor site, the5-year survival rate in colon cancer was better than the rectum cancer.     

Prognostic Role of Programmed Death Ligand-1 Expression in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Cancer therapies that target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway are in ongoing phase I/II clinical trials for several tumor types. However, the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in breast cancer is unclear.

Objective

We assessed the prognostic role of PD-L1 expression in breast cancer.

Methods

We searched Medline/PubMed for eligible studies of the association between PD-L1 expression and patient survival in breast cancer published before 7 December 2015. The effect size was the hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS). Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % CIs were also extracted to evaluate associations between PD-L1 expression and patient clinicopathological features.

Results

We included five studies with 7,802 total patients in this meta-analysis. The pooled OR associated high PD-L1 expression with predictors of poor-prognosis: high tumor grade, negative ER status, negative PR status, positive HER2 status and lymphovascular invasion. High PD-L1 protein expression was associated with shorter OS (HR?=?3.22, 95 % CI: 1.86–5.59; P?<?0.0001), shorter RFS (HR?=?1.38, 95 % CI: 1.03–1.86; P?=?0.03) and shorter MFS (HR?=?3.33, 95 % CI: 2.30–4.82; P?<?0.00001); whereas high PD-L1 mRNA expression was associated with longer OS (HR?=?0.86, 95 % CI: 0.75–1.00; P?=?0.05) and longer RFS (HR?=?0.57, 95 % CI: 0.36–0.91; P?=?0.02).

Limitations

The findings of these studies were significantly heterogeneous; the results should be interpreted cautiously.

Conclusion

In breast cancer, high PD-L1 protein expression appears to be a negative prognostic factor, whereas high PD-L1 mRNA expression appears to be a favorable prognostic factor.

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Colorectal Cancer and Onset of Anxiety and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Research suggests that colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with mental health disorders, primarily anxiety and depression. To synthesize this evidence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the onset of anxiety and depression among patients with CRC. We searched EMBASE and Medline from inception to June 2022. We included original, peer-reviewed studies that: used an epidemiologic design; included patients with CRC and a comparator group of individuals without cancer; and evaluated anxiety and depression as outcomes. We used random effects models to obtain pooled measures of associations. Quality assessment was completed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Of 7326 articles identified, 8 were eligible; of which 6 assessed anxiety and depression and 2 assessed depression only. Meta-analyses showed a non-significant association between CRC and anxiety (pooled HR 1.67; 95% CI 0.88 to 3.17) and a significant association between CRC and depression (pooled HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.57). Predictors of anxiety and depression among patients with CRC included clinical characteristics (e.g., comorbidities, cancer stage, cancer site), cancer treatment (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy, colostomy), and sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, sex). The impacts of anxiety and depression in patients with CRC included increased mortality and decreased quality of life. Altogether, our systematic review and meta-analysis quantified the risks and impacts of CRC on anxiety and depression, particularly an increased risk of depression after CRC diagnosis. Findings provide support for oncologic care that encompasses mental health supports for patients with CRC.     

术前CT检查在可手术非小细胞肺癌TNM分期中的应用评价

目的比较术前CT检查和术后病理诊断的非小细胞肺癌TNM分期结果,评价术前CT检查对非小细胞肺癌TNM分期的临床参考价值。方法112例临床确诊为NSCLC的患者行术前螺旋CT检查,临床分期为Ⅰ～ⅢA患者行手术切除加系统性淋巴结清扫,术前CT检查对TNM的分期结果定义为临床TNM（cTNM）,术后的病理分期定义为病理TNM（pTNM）。对比患者的cTNM与pTNM,评价术前CT检查确定非小细胞肺癌TNM分期的敏感度、特异性和准确率。结果（1）术前CT检查诊断T分期的敏感度和特异性分别为76.6％和85.7％,阳性预测值为92.2％,阴性预测值为62.5％,准确率为79.5％。一致性检验有统计学意义（Kappa=0.658,P<0.05）;（2）术前CT检查诊断纵隔淋巴结转移的敏感度和特异性分别为72.9％和84.9％,阳性预测值为84.3％,阴性预测值为73.8％,准确率为78.6％,一致性检验有统计学意义（Kappa=0.667,P<0.05）。螺旋CT检查诊断 4R、5、6 组纵隔淋巴结转移的准确率和特异性偏低,其中4R组淋巴结转移的假阳性和假阴性较高。结论术前CT检查对非小细胞肺癌TNM分期有重要的临床参考价值,但存在假阳性和假阴性,应结合其他检查手段如PET-CT或纵隔镜等提高术前TNM分期准确率。     

Determining the Survival Rate of Colorectal Cancer in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Despite of remarkableadvances in medical sciences, cancer is an important disease and the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases.The present study was aimed at determining the survival rate of colorectal cancer in Iran. Methods: The present studyis a systematic review of national and international electronic databases. Studies that had the inclusion criteria wereincluded in the study, electronically published articles over December 2007 and March 2015 were retrieved. The collecteddata were analyzed by meta-analytic method through stata 11.0 Software, and the survival rate was measured. Results:The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates of colorectal cancer in Iran were respectively calculated as 85, 75.10, 65,55.40, and 52.The results indicated that there is a significant relationship between anatomic location of tumor andsurvival rate. According to the results of this examination, survival rate of the patients with rectal cancer was 41.9times higher than those with colorectal cancer. Conclusion: Due to the relative high prevalence of this cancer amongyoung people in Iran and the low survival rate, early diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms is necessary before they becomesymptomatic through more effective diagnosis programs of enhancing the patients’ health and survival rate. Moreover,it is necessary to conduct more specialized and relevant studies in order to determine genetic or environmental causes ofcancer such as diet and cultural and behavioral habits at the national level and with different ethnicities.     

Opium Usage and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Opium is among the most used substance of abuse worldwide. More than 50 million opium users are there worldwide, majority of whom are in Asia. Opium usage have been reported to be associated with cancer. This study aimed to find the association between opium use or abuse and head and neck cancer. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar database for studies published from inception till 1st November 2019. Two authors independently reviewed the studies, did quality assessment, and extracted data in standardized data extraction form. Pooled estimate of OR for risk of head and neck cancer was calculated using random effects model using the method of DerSimonian and Laird, with the estimate of heterogeneity being taken from the inverse-variance model. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020156049). Results: Fourteen studies were included in data synthesis (11 case control studies and 3 cohort studies). Eleven case control studies were included in synthesizing the results for meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratio for risk of cancer among opium users for the 11-case control study was 3.85 (2.18-6.79). Heterogeneity was high (I-squared=92.0%, Tau-squared=0.88). There was no publication bias in the study. Subgroup analysis showed highest OR for pooled estimate for risk of laryngeal cancer (19.98 (11.04-36.15)). Conclusion: There was almost four-fold rise in risk of head and neck cancer among opium users compared to non-users.     

Muscle Loss Is Associated with Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Independent of Tumor Mutational Status and Weight Loss

BackgroundSurvival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been associated with tumor mutational status, muscle loss, and weight loss. We sought to explore the combined effects of these variables on overall survival.Materials and MethodsWe performed an observational cohort study, prospectively enrolling patients receiving chemotherapy for mCRC. We retrospectively assessed changes in muscle (using computed tomography) and weight, each dichotomized as >5% or ≤5% loss, at 3, 6, and 12 months after diagnosis of mCRC. We used regression models to assess relationships between tumor mutational status, muscle loss, weight loss, and overall survival. Additionally, we evaluated associations between muscle loss, weight loss, and tumor mutational status.ResultsWe included 226 patients (mean age 59 ± 13 years, 53% male). Tumor mutational status included 44% wild type, 42% RAS‐mutant, and 14% BRAF‐mutant. Patients with >5% muscle loss at 3 and 12 months experienced worse survival controlling for mutational status and weight (3 months hazard ratio, 2.66; p < .001; 12 months hazard ratio, 2.10; p = .031). We found an association of >5% muscle loss with BRAF‐mutational status at 6 and 12 months. Weight loss was not associated with survival nor mutational status.ConclusionIncreased muscle loss at 3 and 12 months may identify patients with mCRC at risk for decreased overall survival, independent of tumor mutational status. Specifically, >5% muscle loss identifies patients within each category of tumor mutational status with decreased overall survival in our sample. Our findings suggest that quantifying muscle loss on serial computed tomography scans may refine survival estimates in patients with mCRC.Implications for PracticeIn this study of 226 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, it was found that losing >5% skeletal muscle at 3 and 12 months after the diagnosis of metastatic disease was associated with worse overall survival, independent of tumor mutational status and weight loss. Interestingly, results did not show a significant association between weight loss and overall survival. These findings suggest that muscle quantification on serial computed tomography may refine survival estimates in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer beyond mutational status.     

The Prognostic Value of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Prognostic biomarkers in cervical cancer are widely investigated, including cancer stem cell (CSC) markers. However, their significance remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the role of cervical cancer stem cell (CCSC) markers for survival. Materials and Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42021237072) of studies reporting CCSC markers as the prognostic predictor based on PRISMA guidelines. We included English articles investigating associations of CCSCs expression in tissue tumor with overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS) from PubMed, EBSCO, and The Cochrane Library databases. The quality of studies was analyzed based on Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results: From 413 publications, after study selection with inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 studies were included. High expressions of CCSC markers were associated with poor OS and DFS (HR= 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 – 1.07, P <0.0001; HR= 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09 – 1.17, P <0.00001; respectively). Sub-analysis of individual CCSC markers indicated significant correlations between CD44 (HR= 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.22, P 0.0001), SOX2 (HR= 1.58, 95% CI: 1.17 – 2.14, P 0.003), OCT4 (HR= 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.06, P 0.008), ALDH1 (HR= 1.36, 95% CI: 1.13 – 1.64, P 0.001), and CD49f (HR= 3.02, 95% CI: 1.37 – 6.64, P 0.006) with worse OS; OCT4 (HR= 1.14, 95% CI 1.06 – 1.22, P 0.0003), SOX2 (HR= 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06 – 1.16, P <0.0001), and ALDH1 (HR= 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10 – 1.35, P 0.0002) with poor DFS. We did not conduct a meta-analysis for MSI-1 and CK17 because only one study investigated those markers. Conclusion: Expressions of OCT4, SOX2, and ALDH1 were associated with poor OS and DFS in cervical cancer tissue. These markers might have potential roles as prognostic biomarkers to predict unfavorable survival.     

The Association between Selenium and Prostate Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Evidence of relationship between selenium and prostate cancer has been inconsistent. The present metaanalysis was conducted to determine relationship between selenium and prostate cancer. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EBSCO andGoogle scholar search engines and the reference lists of the retrieved papers for relevant data, without any limitationregarding language or time until 2016. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using Q test and I2 Index. Finally,a random effects model was used for combining results using STATA software version 11.1. Psignificant. Results: Thirty-eight studies including 36,419 cases and 105,293 controls were included in the final analysis. The pooled relative risk (RR) of relation between selenium and prostate cancer was 0.86 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:0.78-0.94). Sub-group analyses based on case-control, cohort, and RCT studies gave values of 0.89 (95% CI:0.80-1.00), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.52-1.14) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.74-1.09), respectively. RRs based on serum, plasma and nail samples were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.51-0.95), 0.85 (95% CI: 0.61-1.17), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.41-1.05), respectively. According to 10 studies, investigated the relation between advanced prostate cancer and selenium in which the RR was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52-0.87). Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that selenium most probably has a protective role against development of prostate cancer and its progression to advanced stages. Therefore, selenium supplementation can be proposed for prevention of prostate cancer.     

CT与MRI对鼻咽癌分期影响的研究

[目的]比较MRI与CT对鼻咽癌侵犯范围检查的差异性和对T分期的影响。[方法]回顾性分析84例治疗前同时或短时间内（不超过2周）行CT和MRI检查并经病理活检证实是鼻咽癌的患者资料,用χ^2检验比较两种检查方法对各解剖部位的检出率。按’92鼻咽癌分期标准,分别以CT加临床体检和MRI加临床体检对患者进行临床分期．用χ^2检验比较这两种方法划分的各期病例数的分布情况。[结果]CT和MRI诊断颅底骨质破坏的发生率分别为11．9％和41．7％,两种检查方法比较有显著性差异（χ2=18．970,P±0．000）。CT和MRI诊断海绵窦受侵犯的发生率分别为8.3％和20．2％,两种检查方法比较差异有显著性（χ2=4．861,P=0．027）。对于T分期,用CT和MRI划分的各期病例数分布情况比较有显著性差异（χ2=16．416,P=0．001）。有31例（36．9％）在CT与MRI之间发生了T分期改变,MRI所划分的中晚期患者（Ⅲ期和Ⅳa期）比CT增多。[结论]MRI对鼻咽癌侵犯颅底骨质和海绵窦的检出率高于CT。MRI可使鼻咽癌的T分期升级。     

Targeted Therapies in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Assessment of Currently Available Data

Background.

Survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has been significantly improved with the introduction of the monoclonal antibodies targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Novel molecular-targeted agents such as aflibercept and regorafenib have recently been approved. The aim of this review is to summarize and assess the effects of molecular agents in mCRC based on the available phase II and III trials, pooled analyses, and meta-analyses/systematic reviews.

Methods.

A systematic literature search was conducted using the meta-database of the German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information. Criteria of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network were used to assess the quality of the controlled trials and systematic reviews/meta-analyses.

Results.

Of the 806 retrieved records, 40 publications were included. For bevacizumab, efficacy in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy in first- and subsequent-line settings has been shown. The benefit of continued VEGF targeting has also been demonstrated with aflibercept and regorafenib. Cetuximab is effective with fluoropyrimidine, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in first-line settings and as a single agent in last-line settings. Efficacy for panitumumab has been shown with oxaliplatin with fluoropyrimidine in first-line settings, with FOLFIRI in second-line settings, and as monotherapy in last-line settings. Treatment of anti-EGFR antibodies is restricted to patients with tumors that do not harbor mutations in Kirsten rat sarcoma and in neuroblastoma RAS.

Conclusion.

Among various therapeutic options, the future challenge will be a better selection of the population that will benefit the most from specific anti-VEGF or anti- EGFR treatment and a careful consideration of therapy sequence.