Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41096978›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

The Prognostic Power of miR-21 in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Luana Conte, Maria Rosaria Tumolo, Giorgio De Nunzio, Ugo De Giorgi, Roberto Guarino, Donato Cascio, Federico Cucci

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. 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

7 authors.

Luana ConteDepartment of Physics and Chemistry "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
Maria Rosaria TumoloDepartment of Biological & Environmental Sciences & Technology, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
Giorgio De NunzioLaboratory of Biomedical Physics and Environment, Department of Mathematics and Physics "E. De Giorgi", University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-1998-0286
Ugo De GiorgiDepartment of Experimental Medicine, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
Roberto GuarinoBranch of Lecce, National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0127-6557
Donato CascioDepartment of Physics and Chemistry "E. Segrè", University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6522-1259
Federico CucciGruppo Villa Maria, Città di Lecce Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-3013-7419

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide. Despite advances in early detection and treatment, prognosis remains highly variable. Molecular biomarkers, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as promising tools to refine prognostic assessment. Among them, miR-21 is consistently overexpressed in solid tumors and implicated in key oncogenic pathways. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of miR-21 in BC and explore its molecular mechanisms through bioinformatic analyses. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 2025 identified 18 eligible observational studies. Pooled analyses showed that high miR-21 expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.42-3.98) and recurrence-related outcomes (DFS/RFS) (HR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.32-3.34). Subgroup analyses confirmed robust associations across different cut-off definitions and revealed particularly strong effects in triple-negative BC (HR = 5.69) and mixed subtypes (HR = 2.55), but no significant association in HER2-positive BC. Bioinformatic analysis identified target genes such as PTEN, BCL2, STAT3, and MYC, involved in apoptosis regulation, proliferation, NF-κB signaling, and immune modulation. These findings provide consistent evidence that miR-21 is a promising minimally invasive prognostic biomarker in BC, particularly in aggressive subtypes, and support its integration into future multimodal prognostic models.

Indexed as

Biomarkers, TumorBreast NeoplasmsMicroRNAsFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorMicroRNAsMIRN21 microRNA, humanbioinformaticbreast cancermeta-analysismiR-21prognosis

Identifiers

PMID41096978
PMCPMC12524670

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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 OpenQuestion graph.