Prognostic Significance of C-Reactive Protein in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide. One of the most investigated potential biomarkers in this context is C-reactive protein (CRP), a constant biomarker and an acute segment reactant related to inflammation and tissue injury.
Aims and Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to investigate the role of CRP as a potential biomarker for predicting prognosis in OSCC, specifically in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
Methodology: This systematic review (ID: CRD42022344744) has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). We conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. From this search, 638 studies were initially identified. The PRISMA flow diagram was then developed to guide study selection, and Version 5.3 of the Review Manager (RevMan) software was used to do the meta-analysis.
Results: Our systematic review and meta-analysis included articles that completely satisfied our inclusion and exclusion criteria. In our meta-analysis, the forest plot model calculates a combined Hazard ratio of more than 1.5 (1.85 for DFS and 1.97 for OS), suggesting a poor prognosis for OSCC patients regarding DFS and OS, particularly in those with high CRP.
Conclusions: A high CRP level was found to be a significant indicator of poor prognosis compared to OSCC cases with low CRP levels, in terms of patients' overall survival and disease-free survival. Thus, these findings suggest that CRP may be a potential marker for predicting prognosis.
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