Fig. 3

Correlation of ploidy of chromosome 8 in CTCs and disease staging. a. The ratio of CTCs with different karyotypes were 82.8% (triploidy), 44.8% (tetraploidy) and 48.3% (multiploidy) in newly diagnosed (M0) patients. b. For newly diagnosed (M0) patients, the frequency of triploid CTCs in stage II/III/IV were 50.0, 75.0, and 93.3%, respectively. Tetraploid CTCs ratio in stage II/III/IV were 0, 50.0, 46.7%. Multiploid CTCs ratio in stage II/III/IV were 0, 58.3, 53.3%. c. The ratio of CTCs with different karyotypes were 4.8% (diploidy), 57.1% (triploidy), 47.6% (tetraploidy) and 66.7% (multiploidy) in patients with relapse or distant metastasis. d. For patients with relapse or distant metastasis, the frequency of triploid CTCs in stage II/III/IV were 50.0, 57.0 and 58.3%, respectively. Tetraploid CTCs ratio in stage II/III/IV were 100, 57.0, 33.3%. Multiploid CTCs ratio in stage II/III/IV were 0, 57.0, 83.3%. Diploid CTCs was detected in only one patient. Multiploidy contains pentaploidy and those > 5 copies of chromosome 8 CTCs. Stage for patients with relapse/distant metastasis after treatment refered to TNM stage at NPC initial diagnosis