Evidence-based medical evidence: non-coding RNAs serve as prognostic biomarkers for gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE: There are meta-analyses about the correlation between non-coding RNA and the prognosis of gastric cancer, which are focus on a single or a particular type of non-coding RNA. This study aims to verify the correlation between various non-coding RNAs and the prognosis of gastric cancer through meta-analysis. METHODS: The studies documenting the association between non-coding RNAs and the prognosis of gastric cancer up until September 2023 were extracted. The outcomes of the univariate and multivariate analyses were combined for each noncoding RNA. Sources of heterogeneity were determined by meta-regression analysis, and publication bias was assessed using the Egger test. RESULTS: Fifty-five studies were included in meta-analysis, of which 40 reported miRNAs and 14 reported lncRNAs. The up-regulation of miR-17-5p, miR-21, miR-214, miR-20a, lnc-CECR7, lnc-SNHG15, lnc-Sox2ot, lnc-ANRIL, lnc-DSCR8, lnc-ZEB1-AS1 and lnc-NEAT1 were associated with an unfavorable OS in gastric cancer. Elevated level of lnc-PVT1 correlated with an adverse DFS in gastric cancer. A diminished expression of miR-133a, miR-141, miR-206, and miR-1236-3p predicted a poor OS of gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Various non-coding RNAs are associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer based on new evidence-based medical evidence, which provides a potential value for clinical diagnosis and treatment.