Clinicopathological Role of Vasohibin in Gastroenterological Cancers: A Meta-Analysis

Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is an angiogenesis inhibitor, while vasohibin-2 (VASH2) is a proangiogenic factor. The roles of VASH1 and VASH2 expression in gastroenterological cancers remain unclear. We searched for relevant literature, specifically studies on gastroenterological cancer, and evaluated the relationship between VASH expression and clinical outcomes. Nine studies on VASH1 involving 1,574 patients were included. VASH1 expression was associated with the TNM stage [OR (odds ratio) 2.05, 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.24-3.40], lymph node metastasis (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.24-2.58), lymphatic invasion (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.41-2.68), and venous invasion (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.60-3.88); poor clinical outcomes were associated with high VASH1 expression. High VASH1 expression was associated with a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) [HR (hazard ratio) 1.69, 95% CI 1.25-2.29] and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.28-3.15). Three studies on VASH2 involving 469 patients were analyzed. VASH2 expression was associated with the TNM stage (OR 4.21, 95% CI 1.89-9.51) and venous invasion (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.15-3.84); poor clinical outcomes were associated with high VASH2 expression. High VASH2 expression was associated with a significantly lower OS (HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09-2.37). In conclusion, high VASH1 and VASH2 expression levels were associated with poor clinical outcomes and prognosis in patients with gastroenterological cancers.