TITLE:
Clinicopathological and Prognostic Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
AUTHORS:
Ruiwan Chen, Yu Zhou, Bixiu Wen
KEYWORDS:
Circulating Tumor Cells, Head and Neck Cancer, Clinicopathological Characteristic, Prognosis, Meta-Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Radiation Oncology,
Vol.5 No.2,
May
23,
2016
ABSTRACT: Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between clinicopathological and
prognostic significance and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with head and neck cancer.
Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, BioMed, and EMbase databases for studies that assessed
the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and CTCs in patients
with head and neck cancer. Studies obtained from search strategy were screened using
pre-specified criteria, and necessary data were retrieved for meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen
studies with 816 patients were eligible for combined analysis. Presence of CTCs in peripheral
blood was significantly associated with N stage (OR 0.50, 95%CI [0.30, 0.81], n = 10, P = 0.005). Patients
in the high-CTC group were significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS;
HR = 1.73, 95%CI [1.01 - 2.96], P = 0.050) and poorer overall survival (OS; HR = 2.53, 95%CI [1.37 -
4.69] P = 0.003). Further analyses indicated strong prognostic powers of CTCs in non-RT-PCR
group and pre-treatment group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that presence of CTCs is
associated with higher N stage and poorer prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. The
potential for further clinical application may be needed for further investigation.Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between clinicopathological and
prognostic significance and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with head and neck cancer.
Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, BioMed, and EMbase databases for studies that assessed
the association between clinicopathological and prognostic significance and CTCs in patients
with head and neck cancer. Studies obtained from search strategy were screened using
pre-specified criteria, and necessary data were retrieved for meta-analysis. Results: Seventeen
studies with 816 patients were eligible for combined analysis. Presence of CTCs in peripheral
blood was significantly associated with N stage (OR 0.50, 95%CI [0.30, 0.81], n = 10, P = 0.005). Patients
in the high-CTC group were significantly associated with poorer disease-free survival (DFS;
HR = 1.73, 95%CI [1.01 - 2.96], P = 0.050) and poorer overall survival (OS; HR = 2.53, 95%CI [1.37 -
4.69] P = 0.003). Further analyses indicated strong prognostic powers of CTCs in non-RT-PCR
group and pre-treatment group. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicates that presence of CTCs is
associated with higher N stage and poorer prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer. The
potential for further clinical application may be needed for further investigation.