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Table 6 The results of subgroup analyses

From: E-cadherin expression phenotypes associated with molecular subtypes in invasive non-lobular breast cancer: evidence from a retrospective study and meta-analysis

Variables

No. of studies

Pooled risk ratio (95% CI)

I 2 statistic, %

χ2 P value for heterogeneity

Analytical model

Publication year

Before 2010

5 [12, 16, 22,23,24]

1.92 (1.30–2.83)

94

<0.001

REM

After 2011

7a [11, 17, 25,26,27,28]

1.58 (1.15–2.18)

89

<0.001

REM

Geographic location

Asia

7a [11, 16, 17, 24,25,26]

2.21 (1.66–2.94)

86

<0.001

REM

Europe

5 [12, 22, 23, 27, 28]

1.26 (1.06–1.51)

70

0.010

REM

Europe (exclude the lowest effect size [28])

4 [12, 22, 23, 27]

1.29 (1.20–1.39)

22

0.280

FEM

Recruited period

Before 2000

4 [17b, 22, 23 b, 27]

1.29 (1.20–1.39)

10

0.340

FEM

2000 to 2006

4 [16, 24,25,26]

2.08 (1.40–3.08)

91

<0.001

REM

After 2006

2a [11]

2.77 (2.22–3.47)

0

0.700

FEM

Sample size (n, median)

≥452

6 [16, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28]

1.38 (1.07–1.78)

90

<0.001

REM

<452

6a [11, 12, 24,25,26]

2.35 (1.45–3.81)

90

<0.001

REM

≥1000

2 [22, 27]

1.27 (1.17–1.38)

0

0.420

FEM

Tissue processing

TMA

7 [11, 12, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28]

1.49 (1.13–1.95)

90

<0.001

REM

Whole slide section

5a [16, 24,25,26]

2.12 (1.49–3.04)

89

<0.001

REM

IHC antibodies

NCH-38 antibody

2 [11, 16]

2.49 (1.96–3.15)

64

0.090

REM

HECD-1 antibody

2 [12, 22]

1.50 (0.91–2.48)

71

0.060

REM

HECD-1 antibody

2 [12, 22]

1.27 (1.15–1.40)

71

0.060

FEM

4A2C7 antibody

3a [23, 24]

2.29 (1.00–5.25)

94

<0.001

REM

4A2C7 antibody (only whole slide section)

2a [24]

3.38 (2.47–4.62)

38

0.210

FEM

Cutoff

10%

3 [11, 25, 26]

1.85 (1.15–2.98)

92

<0.001

REM

30 and 50%

6a [12, 16, 23, 24, 28]

1.72 (1.02–2.90)

93

<0.001

REM

100 H-score

2 [22, 27]

1.27 (1.17–1.38)

0

0.420

FEM

Prevalence of E-cad expression (%, median)

>64%

6 a [11, 12, 17, 24, 28]

2.02 (1.22–3.36)

87

<0.001

REM

>64% (exclude the highest prevalence [28])

5 a [11, 12, 17, 24]

2.74 (2.31–3.25)

40

0.150

FEM

≤64%

6 [16, 22, 23, 25,26,27]

1.47 (1.21–1.79)

88

<0.001

REM

≤50%

4 [22, 23, 26, 27]

1.27 (1.18–1.36)

0

0.880

FEM

NOS score

7

5 a [16, 22, 26, 27]

1.53 (1.20–1.96)

90

<0.001

REM

5 and 6

7 [11, 12, 17, 23,24,25, 28]

1.82 (1.21–2.72)

90

<0.001

REM

  1. CI confidence interval, REM random-effects model, FEM fixed-effects model
  2. aIncluding our retrospective study
  3. bMost half of recruited period before 2000