Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CBR3-AS1 is overexpressed in various cancers and is playing an oncogene role. This meta-analysis aims to elucidate the relationship between lncRNA CBR3-AS1 expression and the prognosis and clinicopathological features of cancer patients. METHODS: A comprehensive and systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE database. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to evaluate the association between lncRNA CBR3-AS1 expression and clinical outcomes and clinicopathological features in cancer patients. RESULTS: This meta-analysis finally enrolled 9 studies comprising 800 cancer patients. The combined results indicated that lncRNA CBR3-AS1 overexpression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (pooled hazard ratios = 1.69, 95% CI 1.28-2.21, P < .001). Furthermore, elevated lncRNA CBR3-AS1 expression was closely correlated with larger tumor size (large vs small OR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.50-3.14, P < .0001), lymph node metastasis (yes vs no OR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.67-4.51, P < .0001), distant metastasis (yes vs no OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.82-5.23, P < .0001), and advanced tumour, node, metastasis stage (III/IV vs I/II OR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.68-4.75, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Upregulated expression of lncRNA CBR3-AS1 showed significant association with unfavorable survival and indicated worse clinicopathological outcomes in multiple kinds of human cancer, and therefore might serve as a promising prognosis biomarker and therapeutic target for cancers.