Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42287032›Full record

SynthesisJournal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology2026

Prognostic Value of Bcl-xL in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

L Leinonen, R Tiikkaja, M Juola, P Åström, T Salo, K Juurikka, K Korelin

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 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
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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

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

7 authors.

L LeinonenResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
R TiikkajaResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
M JuolaResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
P ÅströmResearch Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
T SaloResearch Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
K JuurikkaMedical Research Centre, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
K KorelinDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Funding

Academy of Finland 354669Helsingin ja Uudenmaan Sairaanhoitopiiri TYH2023333Helsingin ja Uudenmaan Sairaanhoitopiiri TYH2024308Minerva Foundation 181Oulun Yliopistollinen Sairaala K43712Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö 8136Suomen Hammaslääkäriseura Apollonia 20240038Syöpäsäätiö 22.11.2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a heterogeneous disease with poor survival outcomes. Bcl-xL regulates tumor cell survival and apoptosis and has been associated with metastasis and poor prognosis, although its overall role remains undeciphered.

methodsWe systematically evaluated the prognostic value of Bcl-xL in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We identified 2241 reports from seven databases, of which 20 original studies with overall good quality (REMARK) and low bias (QUIPS) were included.

resultsAn association between Bcl-xL levels and survival was rarely observed. However, high Bcl-xL levels correlated with increased risk of lymph node metastasis in 40% of studies. A study on oral tongue cancer identified a significant correlation between high Bcl-xL levels and decreased survival and lymph node metastasis.

conclusionsCurrent evidence does not support Bcl-xL as a general prognostic marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Nevertheless, Bcl-xL may have prognostic relevance in oral tongue cancer if further studies confirm the original finding.

Indexed as

bcl-X ProteinBiomarkers, TumorHead and Neck NeoplasmsSquamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and NeckTongue NeoplasmsApoptosisHumansLymphatic MetastasisPrognosisBCL2L1 protein, humanbcl-X ProteinBiomarkers, TumorapoptosisBcl‐xLHNSCClymph node metastasissurvival

Identifiers

PMID42287032
PMCPMC13533851

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.