Table II.

Survival depending on lung cancer stage and CTC status.

		Total		CTC status
Stage	Total (%)	Alive	Deceased	Detected	Not detected
1	15 (45.4%)	9 (60%)	6 (40%)	13 (87%)	2 (13%)
2	11 (33.3%)	8 (73%)	3 (27%)	8 (73%)	3 (27%)
3	6 (18.1%)	3 (50%)	3 (50%)	5 (83%)	1 (17%)
4	1 (3.3%)	0 (0%)	1 (100%)	0 (0%)	1 (100%)
Total	33	20 (61%)	13 (39%)	26 (79%)	7 (21%)

There was no direct correlation between the stage and detection of CTCs. A Pearson's analysis between proportion of patients with positive CTCs status and lung cancer stage demonstrated a negative correlation, Pearson's r=-0.80, P=0.20. CTC, circulating tumour cells.