BACKGROUND

The immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor is a prognostic marker in several cancer types. In salivary gland tumors, the association between vascular endothelial growth factor and prognosis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms presents prognostic value.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Immunohistochemical studies assessing the predictive value of vascular endothelial growth factor in salivary gland neoplasms were systematically reviewed using PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. It was assessed any survival rates. The fixed-effect model with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) as effect measures were performed in the meta-analysis. The Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies, and the evidence quality was assessed by the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

RESULTS

The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms was associated with shortened survival (HR=5.37, 95% CI: 2.67-10.83, P = 0.00001). In addition, the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor was tightly associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, poor local control of the disease, and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The immunohistochemical overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with salivary gland neoplasms has prognostic value and was associated with decreased survival time. However, more primary well-designed studies are necessary to increase the level of evidence.