Prognostic value of p16 promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

Whether or not p16 promoter hypermethylation has any prognostic value on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is uncertain. A meta-analysis was therefore conducted on the overall survival involving 16 studies with 3968 patients and disease-free survival involving six studies with 1091 cases, respectively. The promoter hypermethylation was found to be significantly associated with shorter survival compared to controls, which was not only stable according to influence analysis and cumulative meta-analysis but also conclusive according to trial sequential meta-analysis. The meta-analysis supports the hypermethylation as an independent adverse prognostic factor for CRC.