Neuropilin-1 as a Potential Biomarker of Prognosis and Invasive-Related Parameters in Liver and Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Studies

Abstract

Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane protein involved in numerous cellular functions which has had increasing interest from cancer researchers. Liver cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) are two of the most frequent and deadly tumors with a complex pharmacological framework. Here, we assessed the prognostic, diagnostic and clinicopathological value of NRP1 in liver cancer and CRC patients. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for articles evaluating the NRP1 correlation with survival parameters, tumor development or clinicopathological features. Hazard ratios and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were extracted or estimated by Parmar method and pooled to evaluate the overall effect size with STATA 16 software. Heterogeneity was analyzed by chi-square-based Q test and I2 statistic, along with meta-regression and subgroup analysis, and publication bias was assessed by funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s test. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022307062). NRP1 overexpression was significantly correlated with lower survival in liver cancer patients and with tumor development in hepatocarcinoma patients, and was strongly correlated with an increased risk of vascular invasion in liver cancer and metastasis in CRC and liver tumors. These results support the role of NRP1 as a potential and useful biomarker in both types of cancer.