In subgroup analyses, we discovered that increased number of intratumoral PDGFR-β+ fibroblasts was considerably associated with lower DFS in BC (HR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.55, P = 0.014), with little heterogeneity being detected (I2 = 0%, P = 1.000). This evidence concerns the gene PDGFRB and breast cancer.