Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42200016›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in oncology2026

Predicting the prognosis of breast cancer patients by using nutrition-based index: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Si Chen, Jun Miao, Xin Cheng, Yan Duan

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

What it found

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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Si Chen *The Clinical Medical Research Center of Breast and Thyroid Tumor in Xinjiang, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
Jun Miao *The Clinical Medical Research Center of Breast and Thyroid Tumor in Xinjiang, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
Xin ChengMedical Imaging Center, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
Yan DuanThe Clinical Medical Research Center of Breast and Thyroid Tumor in Xinjiang, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score are composite markers of nutritional and inflammatory status that are used to predict tumor progression. Their prognostic relevance in breast cancer (BC) has been reported, but the evidence remains inconsistent. Therefore, the prognostic utility of PNI and CONUT in BC was evaluated in this meta-analysis. Methods: A search was carried out across four major databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from inception to 20 October 2025. Studies assessing the association of PNI or CONUT with clinical outcomes in BC were included based on prespecified eligibility criteria. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and pathological complete response (pCR) were analyzed, and pooled effects were reported as hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses, meta-regression, and 95% prediction intervals (PIs) were used to explore heterogeneity. Results: A total of 32 reports comprising 13,120 individuals with BC were included. Higher PNI was linked with improved OS (HR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.39-0.61; P < 0.00001; I² = 83%) and longer DFS (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.81; P < 0.00001; I² = 83%), whereas the evidence for an association between PNI and pCR was inconclusive (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.00-2.47; P = 0.05; I² = 83%), and the result was sensitive to individual studies. In addition, higher CONUT corresponded to poorer OS (HR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.29-2.44; P = 0.0005; I² = 77%) and shorter DFS (HR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.75-2.47; P < 0.00001; I² = 6%). Prediction intervals for PNI and OS, PNI and DFS, PNI and pCR, and CONUT and OS all crossed the null value, indicating substantial between-study variability in the expected effect across future settings. Conclusions: Across the included studies, higher PNI was associated with better OS and DFS, while elevated CONUT was associated with poorer OS and DFS. Therefore, PNI and CONUT may be considered candidate prognostic indicators in BC.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD420251249070.

Indexed as

breast cancercontrolling nutritional statusmeta-analysisprognosisprognostic nutritional index

Identifiers

PMID42200016
PMCPMC13198998

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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.