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Table 1 Clinical characteristics

From: Decreased methylation in the SNAI2 and ADAM23 genes associated with de-differentiation and haematogenous dissemination in breast cancers

Variables

n

%

All

 

59

100.0

Age

≤50

13

22.0

 

> 50

46

78.0

Histology

DIC

49

83.1

 

Others

10

16.9

Tumour size (mm)

≤20

34

57.6

 

> 20

25

42.4

LNM statusa

0

17

28.8

 

≥1

42

71.2

TNM classification

I

14

23.7

 

II

22

37.3

 

III

23

39.0

Grade

1 and 2

36

63.2

 

3

21

36.8

Hormone receptor statusb

Negative

8

13.6

 

Positive

51

86.4

HER2 statusc

Normal

16

27.1

 

Amplified

43

72.9

Ki-67 proliferative indexd

Low

35

59.3

 

High

24

40.7

Tumour multifocality

Negative

51

87.9

 

Positive

7

12.1

CTC anye

Negative

30

50.8

 

Positive

29

49.2

CTC epithelial

Negative

45

76.3

 

Positivef

14

23.7

CTC mesenchymal

Negative

40

67.8

 

Positiveg

19

32.2

CTCe and LNM status

Negat. / Posit.

29

50.0

 

Posit. / Negat.

16

27.6

 

Posit. / Posit.

13

22.4

  1. Abbreviations: DIC ductal invasive carcinoma, LNM lymph node metastasis, HER2 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, CTC circulating tumour cell
  2. aLNM status was categorized according to the number of metastatic LNs
  3. bNegative for both (oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor) or positive for either with cut-off 10%
  4. cHER2 status was determined immunohistochemically according to ASCO guidelines [53]
  5. dCut-off 20%
  6. eCTCs were detected through the quantification of EMT-inducing transcription factor gene transcripts
  7. fOut of them 4 BC patients had simultaneously mesenchymal CTC
  8. gOut of them 4 BC patients had simultaneously epithelial CTC