Table 2.
Sensitivity analysis and publication bias
| Sensitivity analysis | Publication bias (P value) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR/OR fluctuation | 95% CI fluctuation | Begg’s test | Egger’s test | |
| Nestin expression and survival outcomes | ||||
| BCSS(U) | 2.061–2.488 | 1.741–3.357 | 0.060 | 0.065 |
| BCSS(M) | 1.240–2.000 | 1.000–3.810 | 1.000 | – |
| OS(U) | 1.648–2.117 | 1.202–3.386 | 0.260 | 0.018 |
| OS(M) | 1.715–2.362 | 0.862–6.474 | 1.000 | 0.536 |
| DMFS(U) | 1.040–1.993 | 0.674–3.564 | 1.000 | – |
| RFS(U) | 2.575–2.640 | 1.150–6.061 | 1.000 | – |
| Nestin expression and clinicopathological parameters | ||||
| Age (> 35 vs. < 35) | 0.375–0.809 | 0.200–2.529 | 1.000 | 0.437 |
| TNM stage (III vs. I-II) | 4.051–5.924 | 2.337–10.828 | 0.876 | 0.386 |
| T stage (T2–4 vs. T1) | 1.256–1.568 | 1.046–2.097 | 0.917 | 0.340 |
| N stage (N+ vs. N0) | 0.893–1.114 | 0.637–1.586 | 0.755 | 0.358 |
| IDC vs. DCIS | 1.280–1.477 | 0.428–3.928 | 1.000 | 0.817 |
| IDC vs. ILC | 1.927–3.935 | 0.890–10.835 | 0.221 | 0.056 |
| LVI (positive vs. negative) | 0.806–1.021 | 0.656–1.505 | 1.000 | 0.484 |
| BVI (positive vs. negative) | 2.558–2.683 | 0.936–7.689 | 1.000 | – |
| VPI (high vs. low) | 2.958–3.043 | 1.650–5.302 | 0.296 | 0.066 |
| Nestin expression and immunohistochemical markers | ||||
| ER (positive vs. negative) | 0.107–0.134 | 0.064–0.208 | 0.243 | 0.306 |
| PR (positive vs. negative) | 0.167–0.218 | 0.105–0.341 | 0.474 | 0.455 |
| HER2 (positive vs. negative) | 0.610–0.826 | 0.321–1.268 | 0.013 | 0.068 |
| Ki-67 (high vs. low) | 4.998–7.542 | 2.807–14.262 | 0.462 | 0.059 |
| TNBC vs. Non-TNBC | 7.898–10.775 | 5.246–18.386 | 0.348 | 0.657 |
| CK5 (positive vs. negative) | 7.605–9.786 | 5.983–14.333 | 0.462 | 0.023 |
| P-cadherin (positive vs. negative) | 7.440–8.244 | 4.945–12.964 | 0.308 | 0.123 |
| EGFR (positive vs. negative) | 6.306–7.034 | 3.962–10.244 | 1.000 | 0.888 |
| BLP1 (present vs. absent) | 19.543–23.784 | 11.296–41.447 | 1.000 | 0.629 |
| BLP2 (present vs. absent) | 15.339–20.293 | 9.432–33.109 | 0.308 | 0.280 |
| BLP3 (present vs. absent) | 12.265–13.134 | 4.821–31.205 | 0.296 | 0.253 |
| BLP4 (present vs. absent) | 19.715–23.878 | 9.672–48.403 | 0.296 | 0.468 |
| BLP5 (present vs. absent) | 22.230–26.590 | 11.294–53.144 | 1.000 | 0.683 |
| p53 (positive vs. negative) | 3.906–5.397 | 2.619–8.421 | 0.221 | 0.055 |
| FOXA1 (positive vs. negative) | 0.043–0.241 | 0.009–0.593 | 1.000 | – |