Prognostic significance of the kinesin superfamily in breast cancer: A systematic review & meta-analysis

Background & objectives Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), essential motor proteins involved in processes like mitosis and intracellular transport, have emerged as critical players in breast cancer (BC) progression. Recent studies highlight their potential as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This research explores the association between the expression of KIFs and survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Methods In this study, we carried out a meta-analysis as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough literature search was conducted using the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases, covering the period from June 1996 to October 2024. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted from eligible studies and analysed using the RevMan software. Results Initially, we screened 220 articles for this systematic review, from which 11 studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. In our analysis, we have observed that elevated KIFs levels were associated with poor OS (HR=1.77 with 95% CI=1.58-1.98 and P <0.00001), RFS (HR=1.40, 95% CI=1.31-1.49, P <0.00001), and DMFS (HR=1.72, 95% CI=1.49-1.99, P <0.00001). These findings suggest that increased expression of kinesin family members contributes to reduced survival rates and increases the risks of recurrence and metastasis in BC patients. Interpretation & conclusions Our study highlights the potential of kinensin family members as prognostic biomarkers for BC progression, providing insights that may help in clinical decision-making and patient management.