Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells Detected by the CellSearch System in Patients with Metastatic Breast Colorectal and Prostate Cancer
Figure 4
CTC changes after treatment in patients with MBC (a), MCRC (b), and MPC (c). Curves labeled 1 represent patients with CTCs that remain Favorable, labeled 2 CTCs convert from Unfavorable to Favorable, labeled 3 CTCs convert from Favorable to Unfavorable, and labeled 4 CTC remain Unfavorable. (a) After initiation of therapy, CTC in 83 (47%) MBC remained Favorable with median overall survival (OS) of 22.6 months, CTC in 39 (22%) patients remained Unfavorable median OS 4.1 months, CTC in 38 (21%) patients converted to Favorable CTC median OS 19.8 months, and CTC converted to Unfavorable in 17 (10%) patients median OS 10.6 months. (b) CTC in 303 (70%) MCRC remained Favorable median OS 18.6 months, CTC in 24 (6%) patients remained Unfavorable median OS 3.9 months, CTC in 74 (17%) patients converted to Favorable CTC median OS 11.7 months, and CTC converted to Unfavorable in 29 (7%) patients median OS 7.1 months. (c) CTC in 88 (38%) MPC remained Favorable median OS of more than 26 months, CTC in 71 (31%) patients remained Unfavorable median OS 6.8 months, CTC in 45 (20%) patients converted to Favorable CTC median OS 21.3 months, and CTC converted to Unfavorable in 26 (11%) patients median OS 9.3 months. The cutoff value between favorable and unfavorable CTC was 5 CTC/7.5 mL blood for breast and prostate cancer and 3 CTC/7.5 mL blood for prostate cancer.
