articleJournal of Clinical OncologyFeb 26, 2005BRONZE OA

Circulating Tumor Cells: A Novel Prognostic Factor for Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Breast Cancer

Cleveland Clinic · The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · +7 more institutions

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

Results

The mean (+/- standard deviation) follow-up time was 11.1 +/- 4.4 months (median, 12.2 months). Forty-three patients (52%) had > or = five CTCs at baseline. The median PFS was 7.2 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 9.4 months), and the median OS was more than 18 months. Patients with > or = five CTCs at baseline and at first follow-up (4 weeks) had a worse prognosis than patients with less than five CTCs (baseline: median PFS, 4.9 v 9.5 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0014; median OS, 14.2 v > 18 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0048; first follow-up: median PFS, 2.1 v 8.9 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0070; median OS, 11.1 v > 18 months, respectively; log-rank, P = .0029). CTCs before and after the initiation of therapy were strong, independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Detection of CTCs before initiation of first-line therapy in patients with MBC is highly predictive of PFS and OS. This technology can aid in appropriate patient stratification and design of tailored treatments.

Citation impact

1,133
total citations
FWCI
19.94
Percentile
100%
References
23
Citations per year

Authors

13

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Medicine
  • Metastatic breast cancer
  • Internal medicine
  • Circulating tumor cell
  • Breast cancer
  • Progression-free survival
  • Oncology
  • Prospective cohort study
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Good health and well-being
No related works found for this paper.