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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
HtrA1 as a promising tissue marker in cancer: a meta-analysis
Emma Altobelli1,2, Paolo Matteo Angeletti3, Manrico Morroni4
1Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. emma.altobelli@cc.univaq.it.
Background:
HtrA1 is expressed in a variety of normal human tissues and seems to be involved in numerous physiological processes as well as tumorigenesis. This study reports the results of a meta-analysis that was performed: to compare HtrA1 expression as mRNA and protein, in cancer tissue versus non-cancer tissue and to assess overall survival in relation to low or medium-high HtrA1 tissue expression.
Methods:
The PRISMA method was used for study selection. OR and HR with 95% confidence interval was used as a measure of effect size as appropriate. A random-effects model was applied to account for different sources of variation among studies. Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Q statistic. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to check the stability of study findings. Egger's regression method was applied to test funnel plot asymmetry.
Results:
Sensitivity analysis indicated the stability of meta-analytic findings in each meta-analysis. The study found a significantly different HtrA1 expression in cancer and non-cancer tissue. The meta-analysis of the prognostic studies showed a different survival according to HtrA1 expression.
Conclusions:
The present data may provide a contribution to future work directed at exploring the role of HtrA1 in tumor development and progression and at establishing whether it may be used as a promising tissue marker for some tumors.
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