Figure 3. Dynamics of ERCC1⁺CTCs in the course of platinum-based chemotherapy.

A patient was considered positive for ERCC1⁺CTCs if at least one of the Adnatest transcript markers (EpCAM, MUC-1 or CA-125) was detected, in addition to ERCC1-positivity. The pie chart shows a stratification of the study cohort (n=65) into different subgroups, according to the dynamics of ERCC1⁺CTCs before surgery and after chemotherapy. Besides the group of patients, who were negative for ERCC1⁺CTCs throughout (ERCC1⁺CTCs neg-neg), we observed patients, who became negative after chemotherapy (ERCC1⁺CTCs pos-neg), patients with newly acquired positivity after chemotherapy (ERCC1⁺CTCs neg-pos) or persistently positive patients (ERCC1⁺CTCs pos-pos). Percentages and absolute patient numbers are indicated.