Table 3. Multivariate analyses for DFS and OS.

Variables	Hazard ratio	P value
DFS
CTC count (≥2)	3.28 (1.24–8.67)	0.017
CEA (>5 ng/mL)	4.12 (2.25–7.57)	<0.001
Number of lung metastases (multiple)	2.04 (1.12–3.71)	0.037
History of liver metastasis (present)	1.32 (0.69–2.53)	0.403
Disease-free interval (≤24 months)	2.45 (1.10–5.45)	0.028
OS
CTC count (≥2)	2.51 (0.69–9.09)	0.176
CEA (>5 ng/mL)	5.74 (1.63–20.15)	0.006
Disease-free interval (≤24 months)	5.09 (0.61–42.45)	0.133

CTC, circulating tumour cell; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; DFS, disease-free survival; OS, overall survival.