Variation of circulating tumor cell levels during treatment of metastatic breast cancer: prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Ann Oncol
; 19(5): 891-7, 2008 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18056915
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection in advanced breast cancer patients. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
We tested 80 patients for CTC levels before starting a new treatment and after 4, 8 weeks, at the first clinical evaluation and every 2 months thereafter. CTCs were detected using the CellSearch System.RESULTS:
Forty-nine patients had >or=5 CTCs at baseline. At the multivariate analysis, baseline number of CTCs was significantly associated with progression-free survival [hazard ratio (HR) 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-5.4]. The risk of progression for patients with CTCs >or=5 at last available blood draw was five times the risk of patients with 0-4 CTCs at the same time point (HR 5.3; 95% CI 2.8-10.4). Patients with rising or persistent >or=5 CTCs at last available blood draw showed a statistically significant higher risk of progression with respect to patients with <5 CTCs at both blood draws (HR 6.4; 95% CI 2.8-14.6).CONCLUSION:
CTCs basal value is a predictive indicator of prognosis and changes in CTC levels during therapy may indicate a clinical response. Testing CTC levels during targeted treatments might substitute other measurement parameters for response evaluation.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Breast Neoplasms
/
Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast
/
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Oncol
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy