Table 2. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis predicting recurrence and metastasis in NSCLC patients (n=347).
| Characteristic | Univariable analysis | Multivariable analysis | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR | 95% CI | P | HR | 95% CI | P | ||
| CTCs (FU) (<11 vs. ≥11) | 5.690 | 2.780–11.647 | 0.000 | 5.489 | 2.660–11.326 | 0.000 | |
| T stage (Tis/T1/T2 vs. T3) | 4.480 | 1.600–12.546 | 0.004 | 7.180 | 2.477–20.816 | 0.000 | |
| Lymph node metastasis (N0 vs. N1/N2) | 3.289 | 1.781–6.073 | 0.000 | 2.169 | 1.120–4.202 | 0.001 | |
| CEA (ng/mL) (<8.55* vs. ≥8.55*) | 2.286 | 1.149–4.550 | 0.019 | 1.860 | 0.919–3.764 | 0.084 | |
| Age (years) (<60 vs. ≥60) | 1.157 | 0.677–1.977 | 0.594 | – | – | – | |
| Sex (female vs. male) | 1.742 | 1.018–2.979 | 0.043 | 1.929 | 1.113–3.342 | 0.019 | |
| Smoking history (N vs. Y) | 1.330 | 0.649–2.727 | 0.436 | – | – | – | |
| EGFR mutation (N vs. Y) | 1.370 | 0.787–2.384 | 0.265 | – | – | – | |
*, the cutoff-value of CEA as 8.55 ng/mL was according to the dichotomized value (as shown in Figure S2). NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; CTC, circulating tumor cell; FU, functional unit; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen.