Prognostic significance of SHP2 (PTPN11) expression in solid tumors: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: SHP2 is a latent biomarker for predicting the survivals of solid tumors. However, the current researches were controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis is necessary to assess the prognosis of SHP2 on tumor patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searched in PubMed, EMBASE and web of science databases for published studies until Jun 20, 2021. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the affect of SHP2 in clinical stages, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in tumor patients. RESULTS: This study showed that the expression of SHP2 had no significant correlation with clinical stages (OR: 0.91; 95% CI, 0.60–1.38; P = 0.65), DFS (HR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.58–1.34; P = 0.56) and OS (HR = 1.07, 95%CI: 0.79–1.45, P = 0.67), but the prognostic effect varied greatly with tumor sites. High SHP2 expression was positively related to early clinical stage in hepatocellular carcinoma, not associated with clinical stage in the most of solid tumors, containing laryngeal carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, etc. Higher expression of SHP2 could predict longer DFS in colorectal carcinoma, while predict shorter DFS in hepatocellular carcinoma. No significant difference was observed in DFS for non-small cell lung carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma. Higher SHP2 expression was distinctly related to shorter OS in pancreatic carcinoma and laryngeal carcinoma. The OS of the other solid tumors was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic value of SHP2 might not equivalent in different tumors. The prognostic effect of SHP2 is highly influenced by tumor sites.