LAUSR

AimThe potential of biomarkers in detecting early cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is facilitated by examining CCA-associated proteins from primary studies. One such protein is mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) but inconsistency of reported associations between its expression/serum levels and CCA prompts a meta-analysis to obtain more precise estimates.MethodsA literature search yielded 17 included articles where multiple data in some raised the number of studies to 22. We calculated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals from negative and positive readings of MUC5AC levels. Data were subgrouped by ethnicity, detection method, sample source, and cancer type.ResultsOutcome in the overall analysis was non-significant but those in the subgroups were. Thus, significant associations (P < 0.001) indicating high MUC5AC levels were found in three subgroups: (i) Thai (OR 8.32) and (ii) serum (OR 4.52). Heterogeneity of these two outcomes (I2 = 90–93%) was erased with outlier treatment (I2 = 0%) which also modulated the pooled effects (OR 2.48–2.59). (iii) Immunoblot (OR 2.61) had low initial heterogeneity (I2 = 2%). Robustness and significant tests for interaction (Pinteraction = 0.01–0.02) improved MUC5AC associations with CCA in the Thai population.ConclusionsOur pooled effect findings target the biomarker potential of MUC5AC to the Thai population.