Table 2.
Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis for prediction of PFS.
| Variable | Univariate Cox | Multivariate Cox∗ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HR | 95% CI | p | HR | 95% CI | p | |
| Preoperative CTC (CTC ≥ 6/CTC < 6) | 1.398 | 0.569-3.438 | 0.465 | —— | ||
| Postoperative CTC (CTC ≥ 6/CTC < 6) | 7.803 | 2.278-26.728 | 0.001 | 7.521 | 2.065-27.397 | 0.001 |
| CTC variation (elevated/not elevated) | 3.481 | 1.329-9.119 | 0.011 | 2.784 | 1.001-7.743 | 0.05 |
| Preoperative MCTC (positive/negative) | 1.996 | 0.718-5.549 | 0.185 | —— | ||
| Postoperative MCTC (positive/negative) | 7.19 | 1.665-31.05 | 0.008 | 8.232 | 1.826-37.820 | 0.006 |
| MCTC variation (elevated/not elevated) | 3.006 | 1.218-7.42 | 0.017 | 2.329 | 0.901-6.021 | 0.081 |
| Preoperative CTC-WBC (positive/negative) | 0.925 | 0.212-4.029 | 0.917 | —— | ||
| Postoperative CTC-WBC (positive/negative) | 3.079 | 1.169-8.111 | 0.023 | 4.108 | 1.507-11.199 | 0.006 |
| Postoperative CTCs (T1a vs. T1b-T3) | 1.035 | 0.671-2.437 | 0.431 | |||
| Postoperative MCTCs (T1a vs. T1b-T3) | 1.234 | 0.837-1.587 | 0.202 | |||
| Postoperative CTC-WBCs (T1a vs. T1b-T3) | 1.463 | 0.734-2.978 | 0.200 |
∗: adjusted by age, sex, T stage, types of surgery, and tumor differentiation. CTC: circulating tumor cells; MCTC: mesenchymal circulating tumor cell; PFS: progression-free survival; p: statistical value.