Summary
PURPOSE: The prognostic relevance of circulating tumour cells (CTC) in blood of metastatic breast cancer patients was evaluated and compared with established prognostic criteria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples from 119 breast cancer patient were examined in a retrospective analysis. For the detection of CTC in blood, a nested RT-PCR assay for mammaglobin mRNA was applied. RESULTS: In 42/119 (35%) patients CTC were detected. Patients with CTC positive blood samples at the time of diagnosis of metastases lived significantly shorter (median 18 months) than CTC-negative patients (median 51 months), suggesting that CTC serve as an additional prognostic parameter. CTC in blood were an independent prognostic parameter, associated with the highest risk of death compared to other risk factors examined (HR: 2.9). In addition, the appearance of CTC in blood of metastatic patients during treatment indicated poor prognosis. CTC-positive patients had a significantly shorter survival compared to patients remaining CTC negative during followup (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CTC at the time of diagnosis of metastases are an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. During therapy, the detection of CTC is predictive for a shorter survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer.
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Zach, O., Zellhofer, B., Födermayr, M. et al. The detection of circulating tumour cells in blood of metastatic breast cancer patients is of prognostic relevance. memo 1, 281–285 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-008-0075-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-008-0075-5