Table 1.
Characteristics of the eligible studies included in the meta-analysis
| First Author | Year | Country | Tumor Location | No. of patient (M/F) | Median Age (y) | Stage I/II (III/IV) | Median Follow-up (y) | Assessment of IL-17 | Method | Antibody Applied | Cut-off (IL-17 High) | Prognostic Analysis | Estimation of HR | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gu FM [29] | 2012 | China | Bile duct | 123 (62/61) | 55 | 91 (32) | 1.1 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat antihuman IL-17A | 111 cells counted per 1-mm core | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Positive |
| Cui XL [44] | 2013 | China | Brain | 41 (18/23) | 47 | 0 (41) | 1.1 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Mouse anti-human IL-17 monoclonal antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) | 15% positive cells | OS/DFS | Reported in text | Negative |
| Hu JH [49] | 2011 | China | Brain | 24 (18/6) | 41.3 | 12 (12) | NR | intratumoral mRNA of IL-17 | RT-PCR | NR | 0 | Stage | Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Chen WC [30] | 2013 | Taiwan | Breast | 207 (0/207) | 51 | 137 (70) | 5.6 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat polyclonal anti-human IL-17 antibody | 90 cells/5 HPFs | DFS/Stage | Reported in text | Positive |
| Liu JK [31] | 2011 | China | Colorectum | 52 (32/21) | NR | 0 (52) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat monoclonal anti-human IL-17 antibody | NR | OS | Reported in text | Positive |
| Tosolini M [32] | 2011 | France | Colorectum | 106 (?/?) | NR | 48 (58) | NR | IL-17 positive stained cells in invasive margin | IHC | Antibody against IL-17 (H-132; Santa Cruz Biotechnology) | NR (“minimum P value” approach) | DFS | Reported in text | Positive |
| Lv L [50] | 2011 | China | Esophagus | 181 (141/40) | 56 | 117 (64) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat antihuman IL-17 | 3.90 cells/HPF | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Wang B [45] | 2013 | China | Esophagus | 215 (160/55) | 56 | 137 (78) | 2.5 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Rabbit/goat polyclonal anti-human IL-17 antibody | 8.6 cells | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Negative |
| Zhang Y [33] | 2013 | China | Gallbladder | 104 (41/63) | 66.13 | 44 (60) | 3.3 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Monoclonal antibody against IL-17 | NR | OS/DFS/Stage | Survival curve | Positive |
| Qiu LB [34] | 2011 | China | Hypophysis | 75 (27/48) | 51 | 35 (40) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Rabbit polyclonal anti human IL-17 antibody | 10% positive cells | Stage | Data extrapolated | Positive |
| Meng CD [51] | 2012 | China | Larynx | 32 (25/7) | 59 | 20 (12) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Rabbit polyclonal anti human IL-17 antibody | 5% positive cells | Stage | Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Liao R [35] | 2013 | China | Liver | 300 (253/47) | 53 | 202 (98) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Antibody of IL-17 | 51 positive cells | OS/DFS | Survival curve | Positive |
| Lin SZ [46] | 2013 | China | Liver | 132 (122/10) | 51 | 82 (50) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Monoclonal antibody against IL-17 | NR (“minimum P value” approach) | OS/DFS | Reported in text | Negative |
| Wu JX [36] | 2012 | China | Liver | 105 (91/14) | 53 | 74 (31) | 1.7 | IL-17 protein in patient serum | ELISA | Quinsy’s human 9-plex assay kit | 0.9 pg/ml | OS/DFS | Reported in text/Survival curve | Positive |
| Zhang JP [37] | 2009 | China | Liver | 108 (95/13) | 46 | 82 (26) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat antihuman IL-17A | 70th percentile value | OS/DFS | Reported in text | Positive |
| Chang YH [52] | 2010 | Taiwan | Lung | 79 (52/27) | NR | 41 (38) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Rabbit polyclonal anti human IL-17 antibody | 10% cells | Stage | Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Chen X [38] | 2010 | China | Lung | 52 (41/11) | 51.9 | 33 (19) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Rabbit polyclonal anti human IL-17 antibody | 5% positive cells | OS/DFS/stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Positive |
| Zhang GQ [39] | 2012 | China | Lung | 102 (66/36) | 65 | 69 (33) | 2.5 | intratumoral IL-17 protein | IHC | Mouse anti-human IL-17A antibody | 0 | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Positive |
| Zhang YL [53] | 2010 | China | Nasopharynx | 106 (84/22) | 49 | 38 (68) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat monoclonal anti-human IL-17 (R&D Systems) | 5.60 cells/HPF | OS/DFS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Droeser RA [47] | 2013 | Switzerland | Ovary | 94 (0/90) | NR | 11 (83) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat polyclonal anti-human IL-17 antibody | 1 positive cell/punch | DFS/Stage | Data extrapolated | Negative |
| Kato T [54] | 2001 | Japan | Ovary | 17 (0/17) | NR | 9 (8) | NR | intratumoral mRNA of IL-17 | RT-PCR | NR | 0 | Stage | Data extrapolated | Indeterminate |
| Kryczek I [55] | 2009 | America | Ovary | 85 (0/85) | 61 | 5 (80) | NR | IL-17 protein in ascites | ELISA | Anti-IL-17 (eBioscience) | 220 pg/mL | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Negative/Indeterminate |
| Lan CY [48] | 2013 | China | Ovary | 104 (0/104) | 53 | 0 (104) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat polyclonal anti-human IL-17 antibody | 35th percentile value | OS/DFS | Reported in text | Negative |
| He SB [40] | 2011 | China | Pancreas | 46 (31/15) | 61 | 22 (24) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Anti-IL-17-PE (PE-labeled mouse anti-human IL-17 antibody) | NR (median value) | OS | Survival curve | Positive |
| Chen JG [56] | 2011 | China | Stomach | 192 (129/63) | 58 | 79 (113) | 5.1 | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Goat anti-human IL-17 polyclonal antibody | 2.5 cells | OS/Stage | Reported in text/Data extrapolated | Negative/Indeterminate |
| Liu T [41] | 2012 | China | Stomach | 32 (21/11) | 54 | 9 (23) | NR | Th17 cells in peripheral blood | FCM | IL-17-PE | NR | OS | Survival curve | Positive |
| Yamada Y [42] | 2012 | Japan | Stomach | 85 (?/?) | 65.5 | 66 (29) | NR | IL-17 protein in patient serum | ELISA | Human IL-17 (IL-17A) ELISA Development Kit | 1 pg/mL | OS | Reported in text | Positive |
| Zhuang Y [43] | 2012 | China | Stomach | 103 (75/28) | 55 | 34 (69) | NR | intratumoral IL-17 positive stained cells | IHC | Anti-IL-17 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) | 2.75% positive cells | OS/DFS/Stage | Reported in text/Survival curve/Data extrapolated | Positive |
Abbreviations: M, male; F, female; NR, not reported; Th17, T helper 17; IHC, immunohistochemistry; FCM, flow cytometry; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; PE, phycoerythrin; HPF, high power field; OS, overall survival; DFS, disease free survival; HR, hazard ratio.