A Meta-Analysis: <em>PTEN</em> Expression in Relation to Prognosis and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) are steadily rising. Phosphatase-Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression is often dysregulated during tumourigenesis; however, its prognostic value in CRC remains debated. This study evaluated the correlation between PTEN expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients, and its prognostic significance. A systematic literature review was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CNKI up to June 2023. Thirteen studies with a total of 2,377 participants were included. PTEN expression was significantly lower in CRC tissues than in normal mucosa tissues. Positive PTEN expression was associated with better overall survival and favourable pathological features. No significant correlation was found with age, gender, differentiation grade, tumour size, or distant metastasis. Negative PTEN expression is a poor prognostic marker in CRC and may serve as a potential indicator for disease monitoring and outcome prediction. Key Words: PTEN, Colorectal cancer, Prognosis, Meta-analysis, Clinical characteristics.