The Role of p-STAT3 as a Prognostic and Clinicopathological Marker in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveHigh expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) has been detected in a variety of human tumors. However, the association of positive p-STAT3 expression with clinicopathological parameters and the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients remain controversial. To identify the relationship between p-STAT3 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive literature search from PubMed, EMBASE, and SinoMed through 27 March, 2016. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were combined to evaluate the association between p-STAT3 expression and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were combined to evaluate the association between p-STAT3 expression and clinicopathological parameters in patients with colorectal cancer.ResultsSeventeen studies including a total of 2,346 colorectal cancer patients were included in this meta-analysis. The combined HR was 1.43 (95% CI: 1.23–1.67, P ConclusionThe meta-analysis results suggest that p-STAT3 overexpression is unfavorable for the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients, and p-STAT3 overexpression is associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis among colorectal cancer patients.