Conclusions
Serum soluble MICA/B represents a potential prognostic marker in various human cancers. High cell-surface MICA/B expression in cancers of the digestive system was found associated with increased survival.
Methods
We searched PubMed, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Cochrane Library to identify studies published from inception to July 2017 that assessed MICA/B in patients with cancer. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of MICA/B were extracted for overall survival (OS) analysis.
Purpose
MHC class I chain related-proteins A (MICA) and B (MICB) are natural killer group 2D ligands that mediate tumor surveillance. Several studies have suggested that MICA/B levels predict clinical outcomes in patients with cancer; however, this remains contentious. Here, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies of the prognostic value of MICA/B in cancer. Materials and
Results
A total of 19 studies comprising 2,588 patients with 10 different types of cancer were included in the study. Low sMICA/B levels were found associated with significantly longer OS (HR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.42-1.92], P < 0.00001). Patients with cancers of digestive system that exhibited high MICA/B expression had significantly longer OS in (HR = 0.56, 95% CI [0.39-0.80], P = 0.002) compared with those with lower MICA/B expression (I2 = 35%, P = 0.18). Conclusions: Serum soluble MICA/B represents a potential prognostic marker in various human cancers. High cell-surface MICA/B expression in cancers of the digestive system was found associated with increased survival.