Table 4 Relationship between patients’ general clinical characteristics and number and subtypes of CTCs and ORR

Age (years)

3.459

0.063

 ≤ 60

25

65.79

11

42.31

 >60

13

34.21

15

57.69

Gender

1.814

0.178

 Male

35

92.11

21

80.77

 Female

3

7.89

5

19.23

Histology

3.939

0.139

 SCC

17

44.74

15

57.69

 ADC

16

42.11

11

42.31

 SCA

5

13.16

0

0.00

TNM Stage

6.910

0.009^*

 I+II

16

42.11

3

11.54

 III + IV

22

57.89

23

88.46

Chemotherapy

1.920

1.166

 Yes

33

86.84

19

73.08

 No

5

13.16

7

26.92

Surgical Operation

0.155

0.693

 Yes

2

5.26

2

7.69

 No

36

94.74

24

92.31

Smoking

0.689

0.407

 Yes

24

63.16

19

73.08

 No

14

36.84

7

26.92

ECOG

6.100

0.014^*

 ≤ 1

29

76.32

12

46.15

 >1

9

23.68

14

53.85

Tumor Size (cm)

4.652

0.031^*

 ≤ 4

25

65.79

10

38.46

 >4

13

34.21

16

61.54

CEA (ng/ml)

0.282

0.595

 ≤ 5

23

60.53

14

53.85

 >5

15

39.47

12

46.15

NSE (ng/ml)

0.146

0.702

 ≤ 20

34

89.47

24

92.31

 > 20

4

10.53

2

7.69

SCCA (ng/ml)

4.183

0. 041^*

 ≤ 1.5

20

52.63

7

26.92

 > 1.5

18

47.37

19

73.08