Association Between c-Myc and Colorectal Cancer Prognosis: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: There is debate as to whether c-Myc predicts prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we aimed to review the association between c-Myc and CRC prognosis.Methods: Pertinent studies were identified by searching electronic databases and carefully reviewing the reference lists of pertinent studies until March 2016. The summary hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to study the association between c-Myc and CRC prognosis.Results: Eight cohort studies (including seven studies about overall survival [OS] and one study about disease free survival [DFS]) were included. The pooled HR of OS was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.66–1.95). In subgroup analysis, no significant association between c-Myc and CRC prognosis was found in the studies either from Western countries (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.68–1.10) or Asian countries (HR: 1.89, 95% CI: 0.62–5.77). HRs were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.38–1.94) and 1.57 (95% CI: 0.73–3.39) for the studies using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, respectively. HR from the studies that examined DNA level was significantly different (HR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.22–3.46); while that about RNA level or protein level was not significantly different.Conclusion: c-Myc was not associated with CRC prognosis in this meta-analysis. However, the conclusion is preliminary and should be examined in future studies.

c-MYC Expression Is a Possible Keystone in the Colorectal Cancer Resistance to EGFR Inhibitors

“…Although a recent consensus molecular analysis individuated the c-MYC alteration as a specific marker of a particular CRC sub-group (the CMS2 subtype), definitively confirming the involvement of c-MYC in the CRC pathogenesis, the same study did not find a significant association of this group to a better or worse OS or PFS [23,24]. Similarly, several works and meta-analyses of public databases (also including the TCGA database) seem to strengthen the controversial prognostic value of c-MYC in CRC [25]. Probably, the multi-variegate treatments, the methodological analysis of c-MYC expression based on the mRNA levels and the clinical inhomogeneity of the analyzed cohorts could play a role in these results [23][24][25].…”

“…Similarly, several works and meta-analyses of public databases (also including the TCGA database) seem to strengthen the controversial prognostic value of c-MYC in CRC [25]. Probably, the multi-variegate treatments, the methodological analysis of c-MYC expression based on the mRNA levels and the clinical inhomogeneity of the analyzed cohorts could play a role in these results [23][24][25].…”

Prognostic Value of c-Myc Immunohistochemical Expression in Muscle Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder: A Retrospective Study

“…Several studies displayed significant association between the overexpression of c-Myc and poor prognosis in numerous tumors, while other studies revealed an opposite correlation. On the contrary, some reports did not support either of these conclusions (Zaharieva et al, 2005;Tsiatis et al, 2009;Massari et al, 2015;Zeng et al, 2015;Strindlund et al, 2017;He et al, 2018).…”

Spermine synthase and MYC cooperate to maintain colorectal cancer cell survival by repressing Bim expression

“…Aberrant expression of MYC is observed in many human cancers including CRC 11 , but the prognostic value of MYC in CRC remains debatable. A recent report using a meta-analysis shows that MYC is not significantly associated with CRC prognosis 57 . We found that MYC expression is significantly and positively associated with SMS expression in CRC, although SMS expression is not regulated by MYC.…”