Table 2.
Cox proportional hazard regression models for the association between clinical predictor variables, plasma cytokines, the interaction between individual TILs and CTC EMT, and PFS.
| Model | Variable | HR | 95% CI | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LN+ | 6.446 | 2.56–16.24 | <0.001 |
| Ki-67 > 20% | 12.00 | 4.22–34.11 | <0.001 | |
| Cytokines * | 5.928 | 2.12–16.58 | 0.001 | |
| CD3high and CTC EMT positivity | 5.277 | 2.09–13.30 | <0.001 | |
| 2 | LN+ | 4.256 | 1.79–10.10 | 0.001 |
| Ki-67 > 20% | 8.482 | 3.25–22.13 | <0.001 | |
| Cytokines * | 6.387 | 2.35–17.38 | <0.001 | |
| CD8high and CTC EMT positivity | 3.655 | 1.49–9.00 | 0.005 | |
| 3 | LN+ | 3.796 | 1.50–9.58 | 0.005 |
| Ki-67 > 20% | 7.251 | 2.59–20.30 | <0.001 | |
| Cytokines * | 5.172 | 1.80–14.87 | 0.002 | |
| CD45ROhigh and CTC EMT positivity | 4.922 | 1.83–13.23 | 0.002 |
Categorical variables entered in step 1: Age categories; T-stage; Histological grade; Ki-67, cut-off 20%; HER2 status; HR status, cut-off 1%; Grade; N-stage; * TGF-β3high, MCP-3low, and IL-15low; interaction of CD3, CD8, and CD45RO values with CTC EMT positivity.