LAMC2 as a prognostic biomarker in human cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence suggested that the laminin γ2 (LAMC2) expression level was upregulated in various cancers. However, the potential prognostic value of LAMC2 in cancers remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to clarify the association of LAMC2 expression with prognosis. DESIGN: We searched Embase, Web of Science and PubMed (up to 25 November 2021) to collect all eligible studies, and meta-analysis was performed to interpret the association of LAMC2 expression with clinicopathological parameters, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INCLUDING STUDIES: We included studies that investigate the relationship between LAMC2 and prognosis of cancers, patients were divided into two groups, and associations of LAMC2 expression with clinicopathological features were described. RESULTS: Seven studies were finally included. We found that increased LAMC2 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (log OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.38, p<0.001), tumour-node-metastasis stages (log OR: 0.95, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.50, p<0.001) and tumour status (log OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.68, p<0.001), but not with age (log OR −0.05, 95% CI −0.37 to 0.27, p=0.75) or gender (log OR −0.07, 95% CI −0.52 to 0.38, p=0.75). In addition, higher LAMC2 expression was found to be significantly associated with OS/PFS/DSS (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.40, p<0.001). A similar result was found in The Cancer Genome Atlas database. High LAMC2 expression was significantly associated with OS in lung adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, skin cutaneous melanoma, neck squamous cell carcinoma and brain lower grade glioma. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that higher LAMC2 expression was correlated with worse survival, lymph node metastasis, tumour-node-metastasis stages and tumour status. This study was subject to inherent limitations, but the results presented here provide insights regarding the potential use of LAMC2 as a biomarker for human cancer. STUDY REGISTRATION: researchregistry.com (researchregistry1319).