Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41013817›Full record

SynthesisSystematic reviews2025

Predicting fibroblast activation protein overexpression in the overall survival rate of cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Majid Janani, Amirhoushang Poorkhani, Mirmohammadhosseinaali Sharifiandavaei, Zahra Akbari, Khalil Pourkhalili, Saeed Golfiroozi, Taghi Amiriani, Arash Tahmasebifar, Farahnazsadat Ahmadi, Yalda Jorjanisorkhankalateh and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Majid Janani *Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amirhoushang Poorkhani *Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Mirmohammadhosseinaali Sharifiandavaei *Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Zahra AkbariDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
Khalil PourkhaliliDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran.
Saeed GolfirooziIschemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Taghi AmirianiIschemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Arash TahmasebifarIschemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Farahnazsadat AhmadiIschemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Yalda JorjanisorkhankalatehIschemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Morad RoudbarakiLaboratory of Cell Physiology, Inserm U1003, University of Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Vahid Khori *Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Ali Mohammad Alizadeh *Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aalizadeh@sina.tums.ac.ir.ORCID 0000-0002-1147-3335

Funding

Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services 72108
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFibroblast activation protein-alpha (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with distant metastasis. This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to predict the role of FAP-α overexpression in the overall survival rate of cancer patients.

methodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis were first performed on studies published in online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences, based on the PRISMA framework. We focused on all cancer patients with reported FAP-α expression levels and survival rate outcomes. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection and data extraction, and discrepancies were resolved through group discussion. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) were then calculated by the fixed-effect and random-effects models to determine the association between FAP-α with crude HR (univariable), adjusted HR (multivariable), progression-free survival, and disease-free survival.

resultsForty-one studies were included in the systematic review, and 25 were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed that high FAP-α expression was associated with the pooled HR for overall survival (HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.19-1.85, P < 0.001) and HR of 1.53 in studies that reported the adjusted effect of high FAP-α expression on overall survival (HR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.16-2.03, P = 0.003), and HR of 1.36 for disease-free survival (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.750-2.469, P = 0.31). In addition, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were significant factors and had pooled HRs of 2.053 (95% CI: 1.603-2.630, P < 0.001) and 2.630 (95% CI: 1.902-3.637, P < 0.001), respectively.

conclusionsOur results showed that cancer patients with FAP-α overexpression had a significant association with poor overall survival. Incorporating FAP-α testing into cancer diagnostic protocols can help identify high-risk patients requiring more critical treatment interventions.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorGelatinasesMembrane ProteinsNeoplasmsSerine EndopeptidasesEndopeptidasesFibroblast Activation Protein AlphaHumansPrognosisSurvival RateBiomarkers, TumorEndopeptidasesFibroblast Activation Protein AlphaGelatinasesMembrane ProteinsSerine EndopeptidasesCancerFibroblast activation proteinMeta-analysisPredictionSurvival rate

Identifiers

PMID41013817
PMCPMC12465414

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.