Refereed review article in scientific journal (A2)
Clinical significance of tumor-stroma ratio in head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
List of Authors: Almangush Alhadi, Alabi Rasheed Omobolaji, Troiano Giuseppe, Coletta Ricardo D, Salo Tuula, Pirinen Matti, Mäkitie Antti A, Leivo Ilmo
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Publication year: 2021
Journal: BMC Cancer
Journal name in source: BMC cancer
Journal acronym: BMC Cancer
Article number: 480
Volume number: 21
ISSN: 1471-2407
eISSN: 1471-2407
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08222-8
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/56239476
The clinical significance of tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) has been examined in many tumors. Here we systematically reviewed all studies that evaluated TSR in head and neck cancer.
Four databases (Scopus, Medline, PubMed and Web of Science) were searched using the term tumo(u)r-stroma ratio. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) were followed.
TSR was studied in nine studies of different subsites (including cohorts of nasopharyngeal, oral, laryngeal and pharyngeal carcinomas). In all studies, TSR was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Classifying tumors based on TSR seems to allow for identification of high-risk cases. In oral cancer, specifically, our meta-analysis showed that TSR is significantly associated with both cancer-related mortality (HR 2.10, 95%CI 1.56-2.84) and disease-free survival (HR 1.84, 95%CI 1.38-2.46).
The assessment of TSR has a promising prognostic value and can be implemented with minimum efforts in routine head and neck pathology.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |