Prognostic significance of p16INK4a alteration in soft tissue sarcomas: A meta-analysis

PURPOSE: alteration in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) yielding inconsistent and inconclusive results. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to precisely assess its prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: alteration. RESULTS: expression on OS was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.14-1.90); sensitivity analysis suggested that the pooled HR was stable and omitting a single study did not change the significance of the pooled HR. There is no evidence of publication bias in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: expression is associated with lower OS rate in patients with STS, and it is an effective biomarker of prognosis.