Prognostic Value of Circulating Tumor Cells Identified Before Surgical Resection in Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be identified in approximately 25% of nonmetastatic breast cancer patients, and data are emerging regarding their prognostic significance. We hypothesized that CTCs identified before resection of the primary tumor would predict worse outcomes in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients.

Study design

We performed CTC enumerations on 509 patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer as part of an IRB-approved study. The CTCs (per 7.5 mL blood) were identified using the CellSearch System (Janssen). The presence of ≥1 CTC meeting morphologic criteria for malignancy was considered a positive result. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were applied to establish the association of CTCs with relapse-free and overall survival.

Results

SUBMITTER: Hall CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5868486 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature