Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis

BackgroundEarly-stage cervical cancer generally has a favorable prognosis with treatment, yet recurrence remains a significant risk for a subset of patients. Identifying reliable prognostic factors can help refine risk stratification, optimize follow-up strategies, and guide adjuvant therapy decisio...

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Main Authors: Weili Hou, Yaru Ma, Suli Sun, Yanlei Gao, Jia Ling, Rui Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Surgery
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1588558/full
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author Weili Hou
Yaru Ma
Suli Sun
Yanlei Gao
Jia Ling
Rui Shi
author_facet Weili Hou
Yaru Ma
Suli Sun
Yanlei Gao
Jia Ling
Rui Shi
author_sort Weili Hou
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundEarly-stage cervical cancer generally has a favorable prognosis with treatment, yet recurrence remains a significant risk for a subset of patients. Identifying reliable prognostic factors can help refine risk stratification, optimize follow-up strategies, and guide adjuvant therapy decisions. This meta-analysis evaluates the association between key prognostic factors—tumor diameter, HPV status, depth of invasion, LVSI status, and positive lymph nodes—and recurrence risk in early-stage cervical cancer.Materials and methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus was conducted to identify studies assessing the relationship between prognostic factors and recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. Studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria were selected, and data were extracted on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and recurrence outcomes. The NOS was used to assess study quality. Pooled ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using both fixed-effects and random-effects models, with heterogeneity and publication bias assessed through I² statistics and funnel plot analysis, respectively.ResultsA total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Tumor diameter >4 cm (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.69–3.69), depth of invasion >1/2 (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.66–4.80), LVSI positivity (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.36–4.73), and positive lymph nodes (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.99–4.11) were all significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence. However, HPV-positive status showed no consistent association with recurrence risk (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 0.31–14.52), likely due to high heterogeneity among the studies (I² = 86%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results, and publication bias was minimal.ConclusionThis meta-analysis identified tumor diameter >4 cm, depth of invasion >1/2, LVSI positivity, and positive lymph nodes as significant prognostic factors for recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive assessment in clinical practice to better identify high-risk patients who may benefit from intensified monitoring or adjuvant therapies. Further research, particularly on the role of HPV status, is needed to enhance the predictive accuracy of recurrence risk models.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024599867, PROSPERO CRD42024599867.
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spelling doaj-art-f50f0cef4e3c4f6484d8a58db70766b92025-08-20T03:30:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Surgery2296-875X2025-06-011210.3389/fsurg.2025.15885581588558Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysisWeili Hou0Yaru Ma1Suli Sun2Yanlei Gao3Jia Ling4Rui Shi5Maternity Services Center, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaGynaecological Clinic, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaGynaecological Clinic, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Medical Imaging, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaGynaecological Clinic, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaDepartment of Gynecology, Shijiazhuang Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Shijiazhuang, ChinaBackgroundEarly-stage cervical cancer generally has a favorable prognosis with treatment, yet recurrence remains a significant risk for a subset of patients. Identifying reliable prognostic factors can help refine risk stratification, optimize follow-up strategies, and guide adjuvant therapy decisions. This meta-analysis evaluates the association between key prognostic factors—tumor diameter, HPV status, depth of invasion, LVSI status, and positive lymph nodes—and recurrence risk in early-stage cervical cancer.Materials and methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus was conducted to identify studies assessing the relationship between prognostic factors and recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. Studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria were selected, and data were extracted on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and recurrence outcomes. The NOS was used to assess study quality. Pooled ORs with 95% CIs were calculated using both fixed-effects and random-effects models, with heterogeneity and publication bias assessed through I² statistics and funnel plot analysis, respectively.ResultsA total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Tumor diameter >4 cm (OR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.69–3.69), depth of invasion >1/2 (OR = 2.82; 95% CI: 1.66–4.80), LVSI positivity (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.36–4.73), and positive lymph nodes (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.99–4.11) were all significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence. However, HPV-positive status showed no consistent association with recurrence risk (OR = 2.12; 95% CI: 0.31–14.52), likely due to high heterogeneity among the studies (I² = 86%). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results, and publication bias was minimal.ConclusionThis meta-analysis identified tumor diameter >4 cm, depth of invasion >1/2, LVSI positivity, and positive lymph nodes as significant prognostic factors for recurrence in early-stage cervical cancer. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive assessment in clinical practice to better identify high-risk patients who may benefit from intensified monitoring or adjuvant therapies. Further research, particularly on the role of HPV status, is needed to enhance the predictive accuracy of recurrence risk models.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024599867, PROSPERO CRD42024599867.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1588558/fullrecurrence riskprognostic factorsmeta-analysistumor characteristicsearly-stage cervical cancer
spellingShingle Weili Hou
Yaru Ma
Suli Sun
Yanlei Gao
Jia Ling
Rui Shi
Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
Frontiers in Surgery
recurrence risk
prognostic factors
meta-analysis
tumor characteristics
early-stage cervical cancer
title Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
title_full Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
title_short Predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients: a meta-analysis
title_sort predictive factors for postoperative recurrence in early cervical cancer patients a meta analysis
topic recurrence risk
prognostic factors
meta-analysis
tumor characteristics
early-stage cervical cancer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1588558/full
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