FOXP4-AS1 May be a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Human Cancers: A Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Analysis

Guangming Zhang; Yongfeng Wang; Xiaoyong Han; Tingting Lu; Liangyin Fu; Haojie Jin; Kehu Yang; Hui Cai

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.799265

FOXP4-AS1 May be a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in Human Cancers: A Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Analysis

Front Oncol. 2022 May 26:12:799265. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.799265. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Guangming Zhang^{1

2

3

4}, Yongfeng Wang^{1

2

3}, Xiaoyong Han⁵, Tingting Lu^{4

6}, Liangyin Fu^{1

2

3}, Haojie Jin⁷, Kehu Yang^{4

8}, Hui Cai^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ The First Clinical Medical College of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine (Gansu Provincial Hospital), Lanzhou, China.
² Department of General Surgery Clinical Medical Center, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics and Precision Medicine for Surgical Oncology in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.
⁴ Evidence-Based Medicine Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
⁵ Ning Xia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
⁶ Institution of Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, China.
⁷ The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Evidence Based Medicine and Knowledge Translation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China.

Abstract

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Early diagnosis can significantly lower cancer-related mortality. Studies have shown that the lncRNA Forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4-AS1) is aberrantly expressed in various solid tumors. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation of FOXP4-AS1 with the prognosis of cancer patients and determine the clinical value of FOXP4-AS1 as a potential diagnostic marker.

Methods: Correlational studies from the Web of Science, Embase, OVID, Cochrane and PubMed databases were screened (up to April 1, 2021). Meta-analysis was performed using Stata SE12.0 software.

Results: Eleven original studies with 1,332 patients who were diagnosed with a solid cancer (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, osteosarcoma, mantle cell lymphoma, prostate cancer, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) were included in the meta-analysis. High expression of FOXP4-AS1 was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.29-2.44, P < 0.001) and shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.01-2.72, P = 0.044). Subgroup analysis based on sample size, follow-up time and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score revealed significant differences between FOXP4-AS1 levels and OS (P < 0.05). However, the expression level of FOXP4-AS1 was not significantly correlated with the OS of gastric cancer patients (P = 0.381). High expression of FOXP4-AS1 was predictive of a larger tumor size (OR = 3.82, 95% CI 2.3-6.3, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Overexpression of FOXP4-AS1 correlates with poor prognosis of cancer patients, and is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021245267.

Keywords: FOXP4-AS1; bioinformatics analysis; cancers; lncRNA; meta-analysis; prognosis.

Publication types

Systematic Review