Data from: Prognostic value of ki67 in BCG-treated non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: a meta-analysis and systematic review

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic value of ki67 as a marker in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG). Methods: Studies were systematically retrieved from the relevant databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase), and the expiry date was May 2017. The research steps referred to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement. Results: A total of 11 studies that complied with the inclusion criteria were enrolled. The expression of ki67 was not statistically significantly associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) [hazard ratio (HR): 1.331; 95% CI: 0.980–1.809)]. No significant heterogeneity was found among all included studies (I2 = 36.7%, P = 0.148). The expression of ki67 was statistically significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 2.567; 95% CI: 1.562–4.219), and the overexpression of ki67 was the risk factor for PFS. Significant heterogeneity was noted among all the included studies (I2 = 55.6%, P = 0.021). The studies that might cause heterogeneity were excluded using the Galbraith plot, and then the meta-analysis was performed again. The results showed that the expression of ki67 was still associated with PFS (HR: 2.922; 95% CI: 2.002–4.266). Conclusions: The overexpression of ki67 was the risk factor for PFS, and the relationship between the expression of ki67 and RFS was not statistically significant in patients with NMIBC treated with BCG intravesical immunotherapy. Well-designed, prospective, randomized controlled trials with a large sample size are still needed to validate the findings.