Aims: miR-181a and miR-181b have been investigated as prognostic biomarkers of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, there is controversy about the role of miR-181a and miR-181b in predicting CRC prognosis. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to evaluate prognostic values of miR-181a and miR-181b in CRC patients.
Materials & methods: Studies were systemically searched from publications and analyzed, and 999 CRC cases in nine studies were examined in this meta-analysis.
Results: Hazard ratio for overall survival of high miR-181a and miR-181b expression in CRC was 1.65. More prominent predictive effects were observed in black people, miR-181b group and small-sample-size group.
Conclusion: High levels of miR-181a and miR-181b predict poor overall survival in CRC patients. miR-181a and miR-181b are promising biomarkers for CRC prognosis.
Keywords: colorectal cancer; meta-analysis; miR-181a; miR-181b; prognosis.