Prognostic value of high stanniocalcin 2 expression in solid cancers: A meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Translational Research

Background:

• Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) has been investigated for its prognostic value in various cancers, but existing research presents inconsistent findings.
• A comprehensive meta-analysis is needed to clarify the prognostic and clinicopathologic significance of STC2 across different cancer types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the prognostic and clinicopathologic significance of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) expression in patients with various cancers.
• To consolidate existing evidence through a meta-analysis to provide a clearer understanding of STC2's role in cancer prognosis.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI) up to March 2019.
• Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted to assess the association between STC2 expression and overall survival, as well as clinicopathologic characteristics.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 16 studies with 4074 cancer patients.
• High STC2 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.48, P = .002).
• Elevated STC2 levels correlated with advanced T stage, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, and advanced clinical stage.

Conclusions:

• Elevated STC2 expression is a significant indicator of poor prognosis in cancer patients.
• STC2 may function as a novel tumor marker for monitoring cancer development and progression.
• Further research can explore therapeutic strategies targeting STC2.