Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and hTERT gene expression in CTCs for radiotherapy effect with lung cancer

BMC Cancer

Table 6 Relationship between hTERT-positive expression expression before radiotherapy and ORR

Factor	CR + PR (ORR)		SD + PD		χ ²	P
Factor	N	Ratio (%)	N	Ratio (%)	χ ²	P
hTERT (+) TCTCs					9.328	0.002^*
≤ 5	25	65.79	7	26.92
>5	13	34.21	19	73.08
hTERT (+) MCTCs					0.855	0.355
= 0	22	57.89	12	46.15
> 0	16	42.11	14	53.85
hTERT (+) EMCTCs					3.781	0.052
≤ 3	24	63.16	10	38.46
> 3	14	36.84	16	61.54
hTERT (+) ECTCs					4.316	0.038^*
= 0	26	70.27	11	42.31
> 0	11	29.73	15	57.69
hTERT Highly expressed TCTCs					6.385	0.012^*
≤ 5	28	73.68	11	42.31
> 5	10	26.32	15	57.69
hTERT Highly expressed MCTCs					1.287	0.257
= 0	23	60.53	12	46.15
> 0	15	39.47	14	53.85
hTERT Highly expressed EMCTCs					3.781	0.052
≤ 2	24	63.16	10	38.46
> 2	14	36.84	16	61.54
hTERT Highly expressed ECTCs					3.42	0.064
= 0	25	67.57	12	44.44
> 0	12	32.43	15	55.56

Notes:^*P < 0.05.
Abbreviations: CR, complete repose; PR, partial response. SD, stable disease, PD, progressive disease; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; ECTCs, epithelial circulating tumor cells; EMCTCs, epithelial–mesenchymal circulating tumor cells; MCTCs, mesenchymal circulating tumor cells; TCTCs, total CTCs; ORR, overall response rate, ORR = CR + PR

ISSN: 1471-2407