Meta-Analysis
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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2014; 20(20): 6336-6344
Published online May 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i20.6336
Prognostic and clinicopathological significance of glypican-3 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis
Jia Li, Jian-Zhi Gao, Jing-Li Du, Li-Xin Wei
Jia Li, Jian-Zhi Gao, Jing-Li Du, Li-Xin Wei, Department of Pathology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
Jia Li, Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Jian-Zhi Gao, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang 453000, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Wei LX and Li J designed the study; Li J performed the literature search; Li J, Gao JZ and Du JL extracted data from eligible studies and performed the statistical analysis; Li J wrote the manuscript; and Wei LX was responsible for revising the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Li-Xin Wei, PhD, Department of Pathology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. weilx301@263.net
Telephone: +86-10-66939726 Fax: +86-10-66939726
Received: October 31, 2013
Revised: January 9, 2014
Accepted: January 20, 2014
Published online: May 28, 2014
Processing time: 208 Days and 18 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is known to be a specific and available molecular marker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prognostic value of GPC3 overexpression in patients with HCC is less researched and remains controversial. We performed the meta-analysis including six eligible studies and demonstrated that GPC3 overexpression was associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival in HCC. We also found that GPC3 expression was closely related with tumor vascular invasion, hepatic cirrhosis, tumor grade and tumor stage in HCC.