Association between telomere length and clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer patients

VariableStudies (n)Patients (n)Telomere lengthOR (95% CI)P-valueHeterogeneityModel
ShortLongI2 (%)P
Tumor grade (3 vs. 1–2)2683165 vs. 29778 vs. 1431.29 (0.90–1.85)0.1700.86Fixed
Tumor stage (III–IV vs. I–II)390532 vs. 60321 vs. 2491.18 (0.65–2.16)0.5800.89Fixed
Menopausal status (premenopausal vs. postmenopausal)21,516314 vs. 614170 vs. 4181.34 (1.06–1.70)0.01*20.840.26Fixed
Lymph node metastasis (positive vs. negative)2389101 vs. 10295 vs. 911.45 (0.34–6.26)0.6283.330.01Random
HER2 (positive vs. negative)21,550514 vs. 436379 vs. 2210.92 (0.73-1.15)0.4400.51Fixed
ER (positive vs. negative)31,522736 vs. 198431 vs. 1571.12 (0.86–1.44)0.4000.75Fixed
PR (positive vs. negative)31,521633 vs. 302406 vs. 1800.93 (0.73–1.19)0.5842.810.58Fixed

* Statistically significant. CI: confidence intervals; ER: estrogen receptor; HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; OR: odds ratio; PR: progesterone receptor