Expression level and clinical significance of HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA in cervical cancer: a meta-analysis

The long noncoding RNA HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is associated with the development and progression of several types of cancer; however, its role in cervical cancer is unclear. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the expression levels and clinical significance of HOTAIR in cervical cancer tissue. Relevant literature published by January 2016 was identified in PubMed, EMBase, National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. We performed statistical analysis, calculated standard mean differences (SMDs), and determined combined odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. A forest map was constructed. From the literature search, six papers (reporting 535 cases) were included from 578 papers selected according to the inclusion criteria established for the meta-analysis. The analysis showed that HOTAIR expression was significantly increased in cervical cancer compared with that in the normal control group. The ORs for tumour size and lymph node metastasis in patients with cervical cancer having high HOTAIR expression were 2.20 and 7.52, respectively. The combined hazard ratio, reflecting the influence of high HOTAIR expression in patients with cervical cancer on overall survival, was 2.56. High expression of HOTAIR affected the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.