Table 1. Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis.
| References | Country | Type of cancer | Patient No. | Age, median (range) | Male/Female | Stage | Follow-Up,months (Range) | STAT3 (+/–) NO. | 3-yearOS (+/–)% | 5-yearOS (+/–)% | NOS Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studies including OS | |||||||||||
| Abou-Ghazal, M., et al. (2008) | USA | Gliomas | 128 | 44 (4–91) | NR | II-IV | NR | 65/63 | 36.7/48.9 | 34.7/41.7 | 7 |
| Ai, T., et al. (2012) | China | NSCLC | 65 | NR | 50/15 | I-IV | 29.9 ± 15.7 | 47/18 | 49.8/77.9 | NR | 8 |
| Birner, P., etal. (2010) | Bulgaria | Gliomas | 111 | 58.0 ± 11.6 | 57/54 | NR | 11.1 ± 0.8 | 65/46 | 0/17.9 | NR | 7 |
| Chang, K. C., et al. (2006) | China | TET | 118 | 52.7 (25–77) | 65/53 | I-IV | NR | 38/80 | 58.7/56.7 | 32.9/30 | 7 |
| Chatterjee, Devasis., et al. (2008) | USA | GC | 143 | 71.1 (31–96) | 75/68 | IA-IV | 34 (12–180) | 40/103 | 45.1/70.1 | 0/60.7 | 8 |
| Chen, C. C., et al. (2010) | China | NC | 95 | NR | NR | I-IV | 112.8 (31.2–240) | 34/61 | 39/61.2 | 31.3/53 | 6 |
| Chen, H. H., et al. (2012) | China | CC | 165 | 69 (29–89) | 0/165 | I-IV | NR | 36/129 | 53.8/60 | 47.3/48.5 | 8 |
| Cortas, T., et al. (2007) | USA | NSCLC | 145 | 70 (40–88) | 64/81 | I-III | 35 (4–85) | 50/84 | 70/60.7 | 55.5/52 | 7 |
| Deng, J. Y., et al. (2010) | China | GC | 53 | 55 (31–78) | 37/16 | I-IV | 38 (2–108) | 26/27 | 11.5/85.2 | 3.8/85.2 | 8 |
| Deng, J., et al. (2013) | China | GC | 114 | NR | 76/38 | NR | NR | 89/25 | 24.6/80 | 9.9/50.6 | 7 |
| Denley, S. M., et al. (2013)- Tyr705 | UK | PDA | 86 | NR | 43/43 | NR | 22 | 29/57 | 9/21.9 | 0/11 | 7 |
| Denley, S. M., et al. (2013)- Ser727 | UK | PDA | 86 | NR | 43/43 | NR | 22 | 30/56 | 83/22.2 | 0/11.2 | 7 |
| Dolled-F. M., et al. (2003)-M1-C | USA | BC | 286 | NR | 0/286 | NR | NR | 198/88 | 94.6/87.3 | 85.5/80 | 6 |
| Dolled-F. M., et al. (2003)-M1-N | USA | BC | 286 | NR | 0/286 | NR | NR | 66/220 | 94.6/92.1 | 93.1/81.2 | 6 |
| Dolled-F. M., et al. (2003)-M2-C | USA | BC | 286 | NR | 0/286 | NR | NR | 56/229 | 92.5/92.5 | 86.7/83.7 | 6 |
| Dolled-F. M., et al. (2003)-M2-N | USA | BC | 286 | NR | 0/286 | NR | NR | 124/161 | 95.7/89.9 | 91.3/78.7 | 6 |
| Galleges Ruiz, M. I., et al. (2009) | USA | NSCLC | 178 | NR | 127/51 | I-III | NR | 51/111 | 54.5/45 | 48.8/36.5 | 7 |
| Gordziel, C., et al. (2013)-C | Germany | CRC | 414 | NR | NR | I-III | 37 (0–146) | 132/282 | 82.8/70.6 | 74/61 | 6 |
| Gordziel, C., et al. (2013)-N | Germany | CRC | 414 | NR | NR | I-III | 37 (0–146) | 124/290 | 78.6/72 | 71.2/62.1 | 6 |
| Haura, Eric B., et al. (2005) | USA | NSCLC | 176 | 69 (45–84) | 97/79 | I | 72 (36–108) | 94/82 | 77.4/74.3 | 57.8/52.2 | 8 |
| Hbibi, A. Tadlaoui., et al. (2008)-M1 | France | CRC | 126 | 68.1 | NR | I-IV | NR | 62/38 | NR | 61.3/49.2 | 7 |
| Hbibi, A. Tadlaoui., et al. (2008)-M2 | France | CRC | 126 | 68.1 | NR | I-IV | NR | 27/73 | NR | 59.1/55.6 | 7 |
| Horiguchi, Akio., et al. (2002) | Japan | RCC | 48 | 63 (24–85) | 39/9 | I-IV | 15.9 (1–101 | 24/24 | 53.5/89.7 | 53.5/89.7 | 7 |
| Huang, C., et al. (2012) | China | PDA | 71 | 67 (40–80) | 50/21 | I-IV | 33.7 (3–60) | 39/32 | 0/24.3 | 0/14.2 | 8 |
| Jia, Yanfei., et al. (2013) | China | GC | 48 | 66 (45–83) | 34/14 | I-IV | NR | 19/29 | 54.4/86.7 | 12.7/47.6 | 7 |
| Kim, D. Y., et al. (2009) | Korea | GC | 71 | NR | 48/23 | I-IV | 30 (11–83) | 27/44 | 59/86.4 | 40/81.8 | 6 |
| Kim, Yeon-Joo., et al. (2011) | Korea | NC | 38 | 48 (25–74) | 30/8 | I-IV | 43.7 (0.71–60) | 10/28 | NR | 41/77 | 8 |
| Kusaba, T., et al. (2006) | Japan | CRC | 108 | 65.6 (44–86) | 66/42 | I-IV | NR | 62/46 | 61.6/90.1 | 48.8/90.1 | 8 |
| Lee, I., et al. (2012) | USA | Melanoma | 299 | 56 (13–85) | 212/87 | IV | NR | 236/63 | 44.1/41.8 | 22.3/25.4 | 7 |
| Lee, J., et al. (2009) | China | GC | 303 | NR | 206/97 | II-III | 61.5 (12–134) | 79/224 | 68.4/78.4 | 59.5/70.5 | 7 |
| Li, Chao., et al. (2013) | China | TET | 80 | 46.5 (19–70) | 47/33 | I-IV | NR | 36/44 | 70.1/100 | 46.8/97.6 | 7 |
| Lin, G. S., et al. (2014) | China | Gliomas | 90 | 55 (18–79). | 54/36 | NR | 46.4 (1.2–109.6) | 73/17 | 14/31.4 | NR | 8 |
| Mano, Y., et al. (2013) | Japan | HC | 101 | NR | 81/20 | NR | NR | 36/65 | 71.3/84.9 | 60.7/84.7 | 8 |
| Min, Hao., et al. (2009)-M1 | China | OC | 50 | 50.6 (22–73) | 0/50 | I-IV | NR | 44/6 | 53.5/75.1 | 29/0 | 6 |
| Min, Hao., et al. (2009)-M2 | China | OC | 50 | 50.6 (22–73) | 0/50 | I-IV | NR | 29/21 | 35/88.1 | 0/58.7 | 6 |
| Monnien, F., et al. (2010) | France | CRC | 104 | 66 (37–80) | 76/28 | NR | 13 (8–48) | 39/65 | 82.2/78 | 71.8/65.5 | 7 |
| Pectasides, Eirini., et al. (2010)-1 | Greece | HNSC | 107 | NR | 87/20 | I-IV | 64 (1–120) | 23/47 | 90.4/45.9 | 72.4/38.3 | 7 |
| Pectasides, Eirini., et al. (2010)-2 | Greece | HNSC | 107 | NR | 87/20 | I-IV | 64 (1–120) | 12/25 | NR | 68.8/51.4 | 7 |
| Piperi, Christina., et al. (2011) | Greece | Gliomas | 97 | 59 (19–82) | 60/37 | II-IV | 63 (3–180) | 89/8 | 0/14 | NR | 6 |
| Rosen, D. G., et al. (2006) | USA | OC | 303 | 58.2 (20–86) | 0/303 | I-IV | 52 | 215/88 | 49.9/60 | 32.1/49.1 | 8 |
| Ryu, Keinosuke., et al. (2010) | USA | Osteosarcoma | 51 | 20.5 (5–61) | 38/13 | NR | NR | 31/20 | 48.5/75 | 35.2/75 | 8 |
| Schoppmann, S. F., et al. (2012) | Austria | EC | 324 | 63 | 252/72 | NR | NR | 144/180 | 32.6/57.6 | 24.9/53 | 7 |
| Sheen-Chen, et al. (2008) | China | BC | 102 | 48.2 (26–76) | 0/102 | I-III | NR | 27/75 | NR | 59/77.2 | 6 |
| Slinger, E., et al. (2010) | Sweden | Gliomas | 21 | NR | NR | NR | NR | 7/14 | 0/13.6 | NR | 8 |
| Sonnenblick, A., et al. (2012) | Israel | BC | 125 | NR | 0/125 | NR | 50 | 35/90 | 100/91 | 94.4/76.6 | 6 |
| Sonnenblick, A., et al. (2013)-1 | Israel | BC | 375 | 50 | 0/375 | NR | NR | 47/82 | 97.9/96.3 | 94/94 | 7 |
| Sonnenblick, A., et al. (2013)-2 | Israel | BC | 375 | 50 | 0/375 | NR | NR | 184/150 | 99/91.9 | 94.1/80.2 | 7 |
| Takemoto, S., et al. (2009) | Japan | CC | 125 | 47 (19–77) | 0/125 | I-II | NR | 71/54 | 80.9/96.8 | 78.5/94.5 | 7 |
| Tam, L., et al. (2007)-N | UK | PC | 50 | 70 (64–73) | 50/0 | NR | 29.5 (15–54) | 22/28 | 72.8/92.5 | 57.9/84.2 | 8 |
| Tam, L., et al. (2007)-C | UK | PC | 50 | 70 (64–73) | 50/0 | NR | 29.5 (15–54) | 19/31 | 58.1/100 | 42.5/92.7 | 8 |
| van Cruijsen, H., et al. (2009) | USA | NSCLC | 164 | 64.5 | NR | I-III | NR | 116/48 | 49/58.7 | 33.1/50.3 | 7 |
| Wang, M., et al. (2011) | China | NSCLC | 208 | 59.8 (35–76) | NR | I-III | 67 (1–78.2) | 128/80 | 53.9/73.2 | 24.7/39.8 | |
| Wang, Y. C., et al. (2011) | China | Osteosarcoma | 76 | NR | 25/51 | NR | 37 | 36/40 | 25.8/60.4 | 25.8/60.4 | 6 |
| Wang, Y., et al. (2011) | China | Gliomas | 68 | 45 (15–68) | 41/27 | NR | 51 (1–72) | 47/21 | 0/15.4 | NR | 7 |
| Woo, S., et al. (2011) | Korea | GC | 285 | 54.4 | 193/92 | I-IV | 39.7 (4–84) | 101/179 | 79/61.6 | 74.9/54.5 | 7 |
| Wu, Z.S., et al. (2011) | China | Melanoma | 90 | NR | 52/38 | I-IV | NR | 51/39 | 80.5/97.6 | 50.8/76.7 | 8 |
| Xiong, Hua., et al. (2012)-M1 | China | GC | 262 | 59.3 (23–79) | 176/86 | I-IV | 90 (2–273) | 248/14 | 44/64.3 | 28.4/42.9 | 8 |
| Xiong, Hua., et al. (2012)-M2 | China | GC | 262 | 59.3 (23–79) | 176/86 | I-IV | 90 (2–273) | 136/126 | 25.3/65.5 | 11.5/47.3 | 8 |
| Yakata, Yuichi., et al. (2007) | Japan | GC | 111 | 68.9 (38–89) | 63/48 | NR | 120 | 55/56 | 37.7/83.4 | 37.7/78.6 | 8 |
| Yamashita, H., et al. (2006) | Japan | BC | 506 | NR (22–91) | 0/506 | NR | NR | 206/300 | 92/87.9 | 86/81.6 | 7 |
| Yang, C., et al. (2013) | USA | OC | 49 | 61 (41–87) | 0/49 | I-IV | NR | 25/24 | 70.6/73.4 | 33.5/57.6 | 7 |
| Yang, Cao., et al. (2009) | USA | Chordoma | 70 | 59.5 (29–88) | 51/19 | NR | 16.8 (0.8–69.2) | 35/35 | 82.5/90.2 | 73.1/90.2 | 8 |
| Yin, Z., et al. (2012) | China | NSCLC | 76 | NR | 48/28 | I-IV | NR | 42/34 | 49.6/59.3 | 41.8/57.9 | 7 |
| Yu, Y., et al. (2015) | China | NSCLC | 82 | NR | 48/34 | I-IV | NR | 76/24 | 28.7/76.2 | 20.3/48.3 | 8 |
| Zhang, C. H., et al. (2012)-M1 | China | HC | 100 | 55.1 (28–77) | 80/20 | I-IV | 15.4 | 72/28 | 53.5/57.8 | 14/32.2 | 8 |
| Zhang, C. H., et al. (2012)-M2 | China | HC | 100 | 55.1 (28–77) | 80/20 | I-IV | 15.4 | 58/42 | 35.5/81.2 | 19/25.7 | 8 |
| Zhang, L. J., et al. (2013) | China | Wilms’ tumor | 58 | 31 (3–132) | 38/20 | I-IV | ≥ 78 | 17/41 | 45.6/72.1 | 45.6/72.1 | 7 |
| Zhao, X., et al. (2012)-M1 | China | SCLC | 128 | NR | 66/62 | I-IV | 67 (1–78.2) | 71/57 | 29.7/81.6 | 0/9.9 | 7 |
| Zhao, X., et al. (2012)-M2 | China | SCLC | 128 | NR | 66/62 | I-IV | 67 (1–78.2) | 62/66 | 43.4/62.3 | 0/3.9 | 7 |
| Zhao, Yan., et al. (2012) | China | LSCC | 163 | NR | NR | I-IV | NR | 100/63 | 75/86.7 | 41.8/78.6 | 8 |
| Studies including DFS | |||||||||||
| Choi, Chel Hun., et al. (2010) | Korea | CC | 29 | NR | 0/29 | I-II | NR | 20/9 | 49.9/84.6 | 49.9/84.6 | 8 |
| Lee, J., et al. (2009) | China | GC | 303 | NR | 206/97 | II-III | 61.5 (12–134) | 79/224 | 61.7/73.7 | 58.3/67.7 | 7 |
| Li, X., et al. (2015) | China | NSCLC | 164 | NR | 115/40 | I-III | NR | 107/57 | 57.4/87.6 | NR | 8 |
| Macha, Muzafar A., et al. (2011) | Canada | Oral cancer | 94 | NR | 70/24 | I-IV | NR | 63/31 | 18.6/53.9 | 7.1/53.9 | 7 |
| Mano, Y., et al. (2013) | Japan | HC | 101 | NR | 81/20 | NR | NR | 36/65 | 12.5/55.6 | 12.5/31.5 | 8 |
| Schoppmann, S. F., et al. (2012) | Austria | EC | 324 | 63 | 252/72 | NR | NR | 144/180 | 25.8/48.3 | 20.2/47.2 | 7 |
| Takemoto, S., et al. (2009) | Japan | CC | 125 | 47 (19–77) | 0/125 | I-II | NR | 71/54 | 82/97.8 | 78/95.3 | 7 |
| Wang, Y. C., et al. (2011) | China | Osteosarcoma | 76 | NR | 25/51 | NR | 37 | 36/40 | 33.8/67.1 | 24.9/56.3 | 6 |
| Yamashita, H., et al. (2006) | Japan | BC | 506 | NR (22–91) | 0/506 | NR | NR | 206/300 | 83.2/74.7 | 72.7/65.3 | 7 |
| Zhang, L. J., et al. (2013) | China | Wilms’ tumor | 58 | 31 (3–132) | 38/20 | I-IV | ≥ 78 | 17/41 | 31.4/74.1 | 31.4/74.1 | 7 |
M1: Marker1, STAT3; M2: Marker 2, p-STAT3; N: nuclear expression; C: cytoplasmic expression; 1: Cohort 1; 2: Cohort 2; NSCLC: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; GC: Gastric cancer; CRC: Colorectal Cancer; BC: Breast cancer; CC: Cervical Carcinoma; OC: Ovarian Carcinoma; PDA: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma; TET: Thymic Epithelial Tumours; RCC: Renal Cell Carcinoma; HC: Hepatocellular Carcinoma; HNSCC: Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma; EC: Esophageal Cancer; OSCC: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma; SCLC: Small Cell Lung Cancer; NC: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; LSCC: Lingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma; PC: Prostate Cancer; NR: Not Reported; DFS: disease-free survival, STAT3: Signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3; NOS: newcastle–Ottawa Scale; OS: overall survival.