Correlation between miR-21 expression and laryngeal carcinoma risks: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Laryngeal carcinoma is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying laryngeal cancer development is crucial for early detection and treatment.
• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in various cancers, including laryngeal carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the expression levels of miR-21 in laryngeal carcinoma tissues.
• To assess the clinical significance and potential role of miR-21 as a biomarker in laryngeal cancer.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases (PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, British Library).
• Two independent reviewers screened studies based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria and extracted relevant data.
• Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 12.0 and RevMan 5.0 software to synthesize findings from eligible studies.

Main Results:

• Four studies comprising 160 cases were included in the meta-analysis.
• A statistically significant higher expression of miR-21 was observed in laryngeal carcinoma tissues compared to non-neoplastic tissues (odds ratio = 4.47, P = 0.02).
• Limited data were available regarding the correlation between miR-21 expression and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging.

Conclusions:

• Elevated miR-21 expression is strongly associated with laryngeal carcinoma.
• Higher miR-21 levels may indicate an increased risk and serve as a potential molecular biomarker for laryngeal cancer.
• Further high-quality studies are warranted to validate these findings due to limitations in the current evidence.