Background: Various studies have assessed the association between E-cadherin methylation and risk of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) but the conclusion remains unclear. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of E-cadherin methylation on the incidence and clinicopathological characteristics of NPC.
Methods: Ten studies published up to June 30, 2016, were collected. Odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and summarized, respectively.
Results: The E-cadherin methylation in NPC was significantly higher than those in normal groups (OR 16.23; 95% CI 8.34-31.60; P < .001). Ethnicity-stratified analysis indicated that E-cadherin methylation was strongly correlated with NPC among both Asians (OR 16.98; 95% CI 8.45-34.14; P < .001) and North Africans (OR 10.67; 95% CI 1.21-93.72; P = .033). However, further analysis showed that E-cadherin methylation was not strongly associated with clinicopathological feathers in patients with NPC.
Conclusion: The E-cadherin methylation is strongly associated with the incidence of NPC, which can serve as an effective biomarker for early detection of NPC.
Keywords: E-cadherin; case control; meta-analysis; methylation; nasopharyngeal cancer.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.