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- Title
Circulating tumor cells in metastatic colorectal cancer: do we need an alternative cutoff?
- Authors
Gazzaniga, P.; Raimondi, C.; Gradilone, A.; Biondi Zoccai, G.; Nicolazzo, C.; Gandini, O.; Longo, F.; Tomao, S.; Lo Russo, G.; Seminara, P.; Vincenzi, B.; Chimenti, I.; Cristofanilli, M.; Frati, L.; Cortesi, E.
- Abstract
Purpose: To assess the prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) irrespective of detection level. Materials and methods: We evaluated the prognostic and predictive significance of CTC count at baseline and under treatment in 119 mCRC subjects and compared the standard cutoff (≥3 CTCs/7.5 mL to ≥1 CTCs/7.5 mL). Results: An overall comparison was made between patients with 0, 1-2 and ≥3 CTC (median PFS 8, 4 and 5 months, respectively). Two poor prognostic groups were found, including patients with ≥1 CTCs before and during treatment and patients with 0 CTC at baseline who converted to ≥1 CTCs ( p = 0.014). Conclusions: The presence of at least 1 CTC at baseline count is predictive for poor prognosis in mCRC patients. Patients with 1-2 CTC should be switched from the favorable prognostic group-conventionally defined by the presence of <3 CTC-to the unfavorable, deserving a more careful monitoring.
- Subjects
METASTASIS; COLON cancer prognosis; CANCER patients; CANCER chemotherapy; TUMOR markers; CANCER cells
- Publication
Journal of Cancer Research & Clinical Oncology, 2013, Vol 139, Issue 8, p1411
- ISSN
0171-5216
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00432-013-1450-0