Prognostic significance of serum lactate dehydrogenase level in osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis.

Background: A number of studies have investigated the role of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in patients with osteosarcoma but have yielded inconsistent and inconclusive results. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess its prognostic value more precisely.

Methods: Systematic computerized searches of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases were performed. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) of overall survival was used to assess the prognostic role of serum LDH level.

Results: Ten studies published between 1997 and 2013 with a total of 943 osteosarcoma patients were included. Overall, the pooled HR for all ten eligible studies evaluating high LDH level on overall survival was 1.92(95 % CI 1.53-2.40). Sensitivity analysis suggested that the pooled HR was stable and omitting a single study did not change the significance of the pooled HR. Funnel plots and Egger's tests revealed there was some possibility of publication bias risk in the meta-analysis.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis shows that high serum LDH level is obviously associated with lower overall survival rate in patients with osteosarcoma, and it is an effective biomarker of prognosis.