The clinical value of ncRNAs in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Excerpt

In recent years, an increasing number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) containing microRNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to have great potential clinical value in gastric cancer (GC). Moreover, the application of ncRNAs involves many aspects of GC evaluation, from risk prediction [1] to the assessment of clinicopathological features [2] to diagnosis and prognosis [3]. Perhaps, in the near future, ncRNAs may also be used as targets for anticancer drug development [4]. Many researchers have published findings with varied results, but which ncRNA has the greatest value or is the most suitable? How should we use them, singly or jointly? Due to the limitations of sample size and research programs, a single study may not reflect the answers accurately and sufficiently. Therefore, systematic analyses of these data may be valuable for finally determining the potential clinical value of ncRNAs in GC. Furthermore, meta-analyses can enhance the credibility of associated studies by combining data from individual studies and drawing a more comprehensive conclusion. In this paper, we mainly discuss our findings from the following three aspects: clinicopathological features, diagnosis, and prognosis. …