Prognostic value of Aurora kinase A (AURKA) expression among solid tumor patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The prognostic significance of Aurora kinase A expression in cancer patients is currently under debate. Here, we conducted the first comprehensive meta-analysis of the prognostic relevance of Aurora kinase A associated with survival in solid tumors. Methods: Pubmed was searched for studies evaluating the Aurora kinase A expression and survival in solid tumors through 10 October 2014. The main outcome analyzed was overall survival and secondary outcomes were progression-free survival, disease-free survival and cancer-specific survival. Pooled hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the association. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results: Thirty-nine eligible studies enrolling 5523 patients were identified. The high Aurora kinase A expression level was significantly associated with shorter overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-2.95). Further subgroup analyses showed that our results were stable irrespective of the disease sites, stages and methods of Aurora kinase A expression. The high Aurora kinase A expression level was also associated with progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.96-3.69), disease-free survival (hazard ratio = 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-2.51) and cancer-specific survival (hazard ratio = 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-3.29). Conclusions: Our present meta-analysis indicates that the Aurora kinase A is an effective prognosticator in solid tumors patients. Further studies are required to explore the clinical utility of Aurora kinase A in solid tumor.