Plasma von Willebrand factor levels in patients with cancer: A meta‑analysis

von Willebrand Factor (VWF) is well recognized for being dysregulated in various malignancies and has emerged as a potential biomarker for cancer detection. The present meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the association between plasma VWF and the incidence and metastasis of cancer. For this purpose, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases from their inception until March 3, 2023. This culminated in the selection of 15 original studies on various types of cancer, including a collective sample of 1,403 individuals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed as statistical parameters to determine the association between plasma VWF and the incidence and metastasis of cancer. These were estimated using a random-effects model. The pooled data revealed that the plasma VWF levels of patients with cancer were significantly elevated compared with those of healthy controls (SMD, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.59-1.36), and a significant association was observed between plasma VWF levels and cancer metastasis (SMD, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.33-1.06). The symmetry of the Begg's funnel plots indicated that no significant bias was present in the analyses of VWF in cancer and its metastasis. In summary, the results of the present meta-analysis support the hypothesis that increased plasma VWF levels may serve as a biomarker for cancer and metastatic progression.