Supplementary data:
1) Search terms used:
a.
Fascin-1
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Fascin/Fascin(s)/Fascin(1)
MICROFILAMENT PROTEIN(S)
Actin-bundling protein(s)
Actin-binding protein(s)
FSCN(1)
Fascin homology(1)
b.
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Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
BREAST NEOPLASM(S)
CARCINOMA,INTRADUCTAL,NONINFILTRATING
CARCINOMA,DUCTAL,BREAST
Breast tumor(s)
Breast carcinoma(s)/carcinoma(s) of the breast
Breast adenoma(s)
c.
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Colorectal Cancer
COLORECTAL NEOPLASM(s)
Colorectal cancer(s)
Colorectal carcinoma(s)
Colorectal tumour(s)
COLONIC NEOPLASM(s)
Colon neoplasm(s)
Colon tumour(s)
Colon cancer(s)
RECTAL NEOPLASM(s)
Rectal cancer(s)
Rectal tumour(s)
Rectum cancer(s)
Rectum tumour(s)
d.
Gastric Cancer
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STOMACH NEOPLASM(S)
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Gastric neoplasm(s)
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Stomach cancer(s)
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Gastric cancer(s)
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stomach carcinoma(s)
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Gastric carcinoma(s)
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Stomach tumo(u)r(s)
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Gastric tumo(u)r(s)
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e.
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Lung Cancer
LUNG NEOPLASM(S)
Lung tumour(s)
Lung Cancer(s)
Pulmonary neoplasm(s)
Pulmonary cancer(s)
NON SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA(S)
NSCLC
Non small cell lung cancer(s)
SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA(S)
small cell lung cancer(s)
SCLC
Oat cell carcinoma(s) of Lung
BRONCHIAL NEOPLASM(S)
Bronchi/Bronchial tumour(s)
Bronchi/Bronchial Cancer(s)
Bronchial carcinoid(s)
BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA(S)
Bronchial carcinoma
BRONCHIOLO-ALVEOLAR ADENOCARCINOMA(S)
Bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma(s)
Bronchiolar carcinoma(s)
Alveolar adenocarcinoma(s)
Alveolar carcinoma(s)
f.
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Oesophageal Cancer
Esophageal Neoplasm(s)
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Oseophageal Neoplasm(s)
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Esophagus Neoplasm(s)
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Oseophagus Neoplasm(s)
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Esophageal cancer(s)
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Oesophageal cancer(s)
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Esophagus cancer(s)
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Oesophagus cancer(s)
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Esophageal carcinoma(s)
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Oseophageal carcinoma(s)
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Esophagus carcinoma(s)
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Oseophagus carcinoma(s)
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2) Scoring methodologies used to assess immunohistochemical staining of fascin-1:
a.
Different scoring systems have been used to assess the immunohistochemical data on fascin-1.
Some studies measured the intensity of fascin-1 staining and/or the percentage of
immunoreactive cells, while other studies multiplied the intensity of fascin-1 staining by the
percentage of immunoreactive cells. For papers [1,2] which presented separate data for
immunoreactivity or intensity scores, we chose to extract the immunoreactivity scores. This is
because a recent study [3] showed immunoreactivity scores alone to be a sufficient measure
for estimating the association of fascin-1 with survival.
b.
We pooled data using alternative categorisation methods if we did not agree with the scoring
methods used by the individual studies. For example, Takikita et al [4] and Pang et al [5]
categorised a score of ≤3 as negative. As an overall score of 3 could possibly include fascin1-positive cells, we pooled data by using the alternative categorisation of dichotomising the
results as low (overall score of ≤3) and high (score of ≥4).
3) Method used to derive hazard ratios from the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis:
We extracted data from the Kaplan-Meier curve using the method by Tierney et al [6]. For their
method, the Kaplan-Meier curve was divided into a number of time intervals and a number of iterative
calculations were carried out to estimate the number of events during each interval and the number of
patients who were: i) event-free at the start of the interval; ii) censored during the interval; and iii) at
risk during the interval. HRs and their variance were then calculated for each time interval. The HRs
and variance for the whole curve was derived by combining the estimates across time intervals.
We extracted data from the Kaplan-Meier Curves analysis of the study by Tsai et al [7] by using the
method of Tierney et al [6]. The fulle sample set included 100 patients. The Kaplan-Meier curve
included 75 patients and we did not have data on the proportion of fascin-1 positive or negative tumour
specimens in these 75 patients. We estimated the log relative risk from the study by assuming that the
proportion of fascin-1 positive versus negative patients was the same in the 75 patients included in the
survival analysis as in the full sample of 100 patients.
3
4)
References of papers excluded from the meta-analysis and reasons for exclusion
1.
Compared fascin-1 in normal tissues versus tumours in the same patients [8,9]
2.
Carried out studies in adenomas [10], pleomorphic carcinomas [11] or neuroendocrine tumours [12].
3.
Did not report on relevant exposure [13]
4.
Did not present outcomes on cancer-specific mortality, disease-free survival or metastasis [3,14-18].
5.
Did not present results for survival or metastasis [19-23]
6.
Duplicate abstract or study [24-27]
7.
Inability to categorise fascin-1 expression [28]
8.
Unable to obtain one paper either electronically or after contacting the authors [29]
5) Method used to derive 2-yr mortality risk ratio for the study by Ozerhan et al [30]:
For the study by Ozerhan et al [30], two-year survival rates for each fascin-1 category was published in
the results section. This was multiplied by the total number of patients in each fascin-1 category to
estimate the number of events at two years.
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10.
11.
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Hashimoto Y, Ito T, Inoue H, Okumura T, Tanaka E, Tsunoda S, Higashiyama M, Watanabe G,
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Pelosi G, Pasini F, Fraggetta F, Pastorino U, Iannucci A, Maisonneuve P, Arrigoni G, De Manzoni G,
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