Abstract

Background: Tumour budding (B) and depth of invasion (D) have both been reported as promising prognostic markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This meta‐analysis assessed the prognostic value of the tumour budding and depth of invasion combination (BD model) in OSCC.

Methods: Databases including Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were searched for articles that studied the BD model as a prognosticator in OSCC. PICO search strategy was “In OSCC patients, does BD model have a prognostic power?” We used the reporting recommendations for tumour marker prognostic studies (REMARK) criteria to evaluate the quality of studies eligible for systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Results: Nine studies were relevant as they analysed the BD model for prognostication of OSCC. These studies used either haematoxylin and eosin (HE) or pan‐cytokeratin (PCK)‐stained resected sections of OSCC. Our meta‐analysis showed a significant association of BD model with OSCC disease‐free survival (hazard ratio = 2.02; 95% confidence interval = 1.44–2.85).

Conclusions: The BD model is a simple and reliable prognostic indicator for OSCC. Evaluation of the BD model from HE‐ or PCK‐stained sections could facilitate individualized treatment planning for OSCC patients.