Fig. 1.

CTC enumeration results of patients with HR+ mBC. A Representative images of c-MET- or EpCAM+ CTC. CTCs were independently captured using anti-EpCAM or anti-c-MET antibody and defined as DAPI+, CK18+, and CD45−. B Proportions of high EpCAM+ or c-MET+ CTCs group by HER2 status. EpCAM+ CTC high represents four or more CTCs detected in 4 mL blood, and c-MET+ CTC high represents three or more CTCs detected in 4 mL blood. The number of EpCAM+ C or c-MET+ D CTCs in patients with detected CTCs by the presence of visceral metastasis. PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell; HR, hormone receptor; mBC, metastatic breast cancer; CTCs, circulating tumor cells; *p < 0.05