A systematic review and meta-analysis combined with bioinformatic analysis on the predictive value of E-cadherin in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer of the kidney. This study aims to evaluate the potential predictive value of E-cadherin, a marker of the epithelial mesenchymal transit (EMT) process that has been associated with tumor metastasis.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify prospective studies. Hazard ratios (HRs), odds ratios (ORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were summarized to validate the relationship between E-cadherin and survival and clinical characteristics. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the NOS table. Then, we analyzed genetic data and clinical characteristics from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database using R language with the dplyr package for validation.

Results: Including 21 articles. The analysis revealed a strong link between high E-cadherin expression and favorable prognosis (for OS, HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.62; for PFS, HR = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.03-0.53; for DSS, HR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08-0.76; for RFS, HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.44-1.16; for DFS, HR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.61; for T stage, OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.11-0.41; for N stage, OR = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.02-0.25; for M stage, OR = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.60; for clinical stage, OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.18-0.47; for nuclear grade, OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.13-0.41; for tumor size, OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.26-0.92). The findings were supported by bioinformatic analysis which used TCGA RCC patient's cohort ( < 0.01).

Conclusion: Based on the current data, E-cadherin may predict a better prognosis in RCC patients.