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Published on: August 4, 2021
Enhancing prognostic insights: myometrial invasion patterns in endometrial carcinoma, with emphasis on MELF pattern-a
Yuyuan Guo1, Luying Li1, Kaini Yang1
1School of Medicine, Shihezi University.
Purpose:
The microcystic, elongated, and fragmented (MELF) pattern, characterized by myxoid and inflamed stroma, is readily identifiable as a form of myometrial infiltration. This meta-analysis endeavors to assess the prognostic significance of MELF infiltration patterns in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Methods:
A comprehensive literature search, spanning until 11 October 2023, across PubMed , Embase , Cochrane , and Web of Science databases, identified 23 relevant studies involving 5199 patients. Data analysis was performed using Stata 16.0.
Results:
Analysis indicates that MELF infiltration predicts a higher risk of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer patients [hazard ratios (HR) = 5.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.62-7.05; P < 0.05]. Notably, this association remains consistent across various patient demographics, analytical approaches, study designs, and treatment modalities. However, MELF infiltration does not significantly correlate with recurrence (HR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.73-1.52; P > 0.05), overall survival (HR = 1.24; 95% CI, 0.91-1.68; P > 0.05), or disease-free survival (HR = 1.40; 95% CI, 0.85-2.28; P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
While MELF infiltration heightens the risk of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer, its impact on recurrence, overall survival, and disease-free survival remains statistically insignificant.
