Table 3.
Summary of the meta-analysis results.
| Random-effects model | Fixed-effects model | Heterogeneity | ||||||
| Analysis | N | References | HR (95%CI) | P | HR (95%CI) | P | I2 | Ph |
| OS | 11 | 9,10,12,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26 | 1.43 (0.98–2.10) | .067 | 1.86 (1.56–2.21) | .000 | 69.80% | 0.000 |
| Subgroup1:sample size <500 | 8 | 12,19,21,22,23,24,25,26 | 1.13 (0.75–1.71) | .551 | 1.17 (0.87–1.58) | .301 | 34.30% | 0.154 |
| sample size ≥500 | 3 | 9,10,20 | 2.11 (1.28–3.46) | .003 | 2.34 (1.89–2.90) | .000 | 77.40% | 0.012 |
| Subgroup2: age <50 | 2 | 12,21 | 1.96 (1.18–3.24) | .009 | 1.96 (1.18–3.24) | .009 | 0.00% | 0.869 |
| Age ≥50 | 7 | 9,10,20,22,23,25,26 | 1.32 (0.81–2.14) | .269 | 1.86 (1.55–2.24) | .000 | 78.20% | 0.000 |
| Subgroup3: univariate analysis | 3 | 12,23,24 | 1.08 (0.58–2.03) | .803 | 1.05 (0.72–1.55) | .795 | 59.20% | 0.000 |
| Multivariate analysis | 8 | 9,10,19,20,21,22,25,26 | 1.70 (1.13–2.54) | .01 | 2.15 (1.77–2.61) | .000 | 60.30% | 0.014 |
| Subgroup4: NOS score =6 | 4 | 9,19,23,24 | 1.23 (0.50–3.05) | .655 | 2.10 (1.66–2.64) | .000 | 88.30% | 0.000 |
| NOS score= 7 | 3 | 20,22,26 | 1.46 (1.02–2.09) | .04 | 1.46 (1.02–2.09) | .040 | 69.80% | 0.000 |
| NOS score= 8 | 4 | 10,12,21,25 | 1.70 (1.03–2.81) | .037 | 1.78 (1.21–2.60) | .003 | 33.10% | 0.214 |
| DFS | 7 | 10,12,19,20,22,23,25 | 1.26 (0.89–1.78) | .195 | 1.40 (1.11–1.78) | .005 | 43.50% | 0.101 |
| Subgroup1:sample size <500 | 5 | 12,19,22,23,25 | 0.96 (0.66–1.39) | .832 | 0.96 (0.66–1.39) | .832 | 0.00% | 0.428 |
| sample size ≥500 | 2 | 10,20 | 1.82 (1.34–2.47) | 0 | 1.82 (1.34–2.47) | .000 | 0.00% | 0.806 |
| Subgroup2: age <50 | 1 | 12 | 1.21 (0.56–2.62) | .628 | 1.21 (0.56–2.62) | .628 | NA | NA |
| Age ≥50 | 5 | 10,20,22,23,25 | 1.28 (0.83–1.96) | .259 | 1.45 (1.13–1.87) | .004 | 58.50% | 0.047 |
| Subgroup3: univariate analysis | 2 | 12,19 | 1.08 (0.55–2.13) | .818 | 1.08 (0.55–2.13) | .818 | 0.00% | 0.553 |
| Multivariate analysis | 5 | 10,20,22,23,25 | 1.28 (0.83–1.96) | .259 | 1.45 (1.13–1.87) | .040 | 58.50% | 0.047 |
| Subgroup4: NOS score =6 | 2 | 19,23 | 0.76 (0.42–1.39) | .38 | 0.76 (0.42–1.39) | .380 | 0.00% | 0.961 |
| NOS score =7 | 2 | 20,22 | 1.79 (1.28–2.50) | .001 | 1.79 (1.28–2.50) | .001 | 0.00% | 0.639 |
| NOS score =8 | 3 | 10,12,25 | 1.15 (0.61–2.16) | .665 | 1.29 (0.87–1.93) | .210 | 53.10% | 0.119 |
N = number of studies, HR = hazard ratio, 95% CI = 95% confidence interval, Ph = p values of Q test for heterogeneity test, OS = Overall survival, DFS = Disease-free survival, NOS score = The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score; NA = not applicable.