Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  Aldehyde dehydrogenase serves as a biomarker for worse survival profiles in ovarian 
cancer patients: an updated meta -analysis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Oct 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Antonio  Schiattarella  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
The topic of this Manuscript is interesting and falls within the scope of the BMC Women's 
Health. The methodology is informative enough, despite it requires some mandatory 
clarifications. Results are detailed. Limitations are well highlighted in the main t ext.  
 
 
In general, the Manuscript may benefit from several minor revisions, as suggested below:  
 
- Methods: it was not reported which Pubmed databases were used to assess meta -analysis. It 
should be specified.  
 
- Methods: was this study designed according  to the PRISMA Statement (PMID: 19621072), 
available through the EQUATOR Network (http://www.equatornetwork.org/)? It would be 
mandatory to report this information.  
 
- Methods: was this study registered on Clinicaltrials.gov or similar repositories? If not , authors 
should justify this point; conversely, they should report the ID of the study protocol.  
 
- Methods: About selection criteria, restriction for languages or geographic location were 
applied? It should be specified.  
 
- Methods: How was assessed the risk of bias of this meta -analysis? It should be specified.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I recommend additional statistical review  
 
Qual ity of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following qu estions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you rec eived reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in  relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
'I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal