All patients

Patients without CTCs

Patients with CTCs

P-value

(n = 47)

(n = 9 )^*

(n = 36 )^*

n  (%)

n (%)

n (%)

Age (years)

   Mean ± SD

54.4 ± 9.8

57 ± 8.2

53.8 ± 10.1

0.314^a

   Range

33-71

47-69

33-71

Tumor stage

   pT1

34 (72.3)

7 (77.8)

27 (75.0)

0.730^b

   pT2

7 (14.9)

1 (11.1)

5 (13.8)

   pT3

2 (4.3)

0

2 (5.6)

   pT4

1 (2.1)

 -

-

   Unknown

3 (6.4)

1 (11.1)

2 (5.6)

Nodal stage

   pN0

30 (63.8)

4 (44.5)

25 (69.4)

0.163^b

   pN1

7 (14.9)

1 (11.1)

6 (16.7)

   pN2

3 (6.4)

0

2 (5.6)

   pN3

3 (6.4)

2 (22.2)

1 (2.7)

   Unknown

4 (8.5)

2 (22.2)

2 (5.6)

Histological grading

   G1

13 (27.7)

3 (33.3)

10 (27.7)

0.738^b

   G2

25 (53.2)

5 (55.6)

18 (50)

   G3

7 (14.9)

1 (11.1)

6 (16.7)

   unknown

2 (4.2)

0

2 (5.6)

Histological type

   Ductal

39 (83)

5 (55.6)

32 (88.8)

0.562^b

   Lobular

5 (10.6)

3 (33.3)

2 (5.6)

   In situ

3 (6.4)

1 (11.1)

2 (5.6)

Hormone receptor status (ER, PgR)

   Negative

5 (10.7)

0

5 (13.8)

0.299^c

   Positive

41 (87.2)

9 (100)

30 (83.5)

   Unknown

1 (2.1)

0

1 (2.7)

Ki67^**

   High

13 (27.7)

2 (22.2)

10 (27.8)

0.569^c

   Low

30 (63.8)

6 (66.7)

23 ( 63.9)

   Unknown

4 (8.5)

1 (11.1)

3 (8.3)

HER2 status

   Negative

38 (80.9)

6 (66.7)

30 (83.4)

0.246^c

   Positive

5 (10.6)

2 (22.2)

3 (8.3)

   Unknown

4 (8.5)

1 (11.1)

3 (8.3)

Type of surgery

   Breast conserving

34 (72.4)

7 (77.8)

26 (72.2)

0.550^c

   Mastectomy

13 (27.6)

2 (22.2)

10 (27.8)