The diagnostic and prognostic value of CHFR hypermethylation in colorectal cancer, a meta-analysis and literature review.

The Checkpoint with Forkhead-associated and Ring finger domains () is a mitotic checkpoint and tumor-suppressor gene, its loss contributes tumorigenesis of epithelial cancers including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The diagnostic and prognostic value of promoter hypermethylation in CRC remains unclear. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis and literature review and investigate clinicopathological significance of promoter hypermethylation in CRC. The following online database were used: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to March 2017. Odds Ratios (OR) and Hazard Ratios (HR) with 95% corresponding confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. A total of seven relevant articles were available for meta-analysis which included 966 patients. The frequency of promoter hypermethylation significantly increased in CRC compared to normal colorectal mucosa tissue, pooled OR was 8.35, < 0.00001. promoter hypermethylation was not significantly correlated to stage, OR was 1.16, = 0.63. However, promoter hypermethylation was more frequently observed in CRC with positive lymph nodes metastasis than CRC with negative lymph nodes metastasis, OR was 0.46, = 0.03. Additionally promoter hypermethylation was significantly related to poor overall survival in patients with CRC, HR was 0.62, = 0.008. Based on these results, tumor promoter hypermethylation is not only a diagnostic biomarker for CRC, but also a prognostic marker. promoter hypermethylation is significantly associated with worse overall survival in patients with CRC. Our data suggested that CHFR could be a potential drug target for development of demethylation treatment for patients with CRC.