We performed a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of circulating miRNA for patients with ovarian cancer. We systematically searched several online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang from inception to February 20, 2017. We used the bivariate mixed-effect models to pool positive likelihood ratios, negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratios and their 95% CI confidence intervals (CIs). We used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 for quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies. This meta-analysis included ten studies with the number of 1356 participants. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.75 (95%CI: 0.69-0.80) and 0.75 (95%CI: 0.69-0.81). We also calculated the positive likelihood ratios (3.03, 95%CI: 2.44-3.76), and negative likelihood ratios (0.33, 95%CI: 0.27-0.41). The diagnostic odds ratio was 9.09 (95%CI: 6.51-12.69). The summary receiver operator characteristic was 0.82 (95%CI: 0.78-0.85). Sensitivity analysis showed similar results. No publication bias existed (t=0.380, P=0.712). The diagnostic ability of miRNAs were moderate for ovarian cancer. Further research was required to obtain accurate results.
Keywords: diagnostic; meta-analysis; miRNA; ovarian cancer.