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Recent studies show that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity might be related to adverse prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but the results are still inconclusive. We conducted this meta-analysis to define the clinical value of EBV infection in DLBCL. All potential articles in PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Embase were retrieved. Using the random-effects or fixed-effect model, pooled hazard ratios (HRs) or relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the correlation between EBER and prognosis and clinical features in DLBCL. A total of 13 qualified studies with 4111 patients were identified in our meta-analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall estimates revealed that EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBER) positivity was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (HR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.73–3.36) and progression-free survival (HR = 3.60, 95% CI: 2.07–6.26). In addition, EBER positivity was associated with age older than 60 years (RR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.02–2.24), male sex (RR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.05–1.71), more advanced stage (RR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.72–2.96), high international prognostic index (RR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.71–2.82), more than one extranodal involvement (RR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.27–2.26), presence of B symptom (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.30–2.35), non-germinal center B-cell subtype (RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.03–1.78), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels (RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 0.98–1.72). EBER positivity was correlated with worse outcomes, worse clinical course, and adverse clinicopathologic features among patients with DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The clinical significance and prognostic role of circulating plasma cells (CPCs) in multiple myeloma (MM) are still controversial. We conducted the first meta-analysis to clarify the correlation between CPCs and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of MM patients. Methods: A comprehensive literary search for relevant studies was performed on PubMed, Embase, Medline, CNKI (Chinese) and Web of Science databases (January 1, 1950 to December 20, 2016). The associations between CPCs and survival rate and clinicopathological parameters, including International staging system (ISS) and Durie-Salm staging system (DS) stage, were evaluated. Then pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for survival with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were conducted. Results: 11 studies covering a total of 2943 patients were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) revealed that the presence of CPCs predicted aggressive disease progression (HR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.57–2.03) and reduced overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.59–2.08). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that CPCs positive patients also had poor disease progression and OS in detection methods and sampling time subsets. Moreover, the presence of CPCs was strikingly associated with increased ISS stage (OR = 2.78% CI = 1.69–4.56), but not with DS stage(OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 0.74–3.47). Conclusions: CPCs status is associated with poorer survival outcome in multiple myeloma. Additionally, increased ISS stage could be significant risk factors for the presence of CPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]