Survival-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To aim of this systematic review was to explore the relationship between Human papillomavirus (HPV) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related to the prognosis of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). For this systematic review, searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Cochrane, and a random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. The presence of EMT was confirmed by the loss of E-cadherin immunoexpression and overexpression of vimentin. In summary, EMT-related proteins were expressed regardless of HPV status; however, overall survival was better in HPV-positive OPSCC cases, with a 5.88 times lower death risk compared to HPV-negative patients (OR=0.17; 95%CI=0.10–0.30). Likewise, the maintenance of E-cadherin in OPSCC was associated with an 11.11 times lower risk of death due to the disease (OR=0.09; 95%CI=0.01–0.88). More advanced clinical stages (III/IV) and the presence of lymph node metastases (N1–3) were common in OPSCC but were not significantly associated with HPV status. [Display omitted]