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In this review of 195 patients with metastatic breast cancer, detection of 5 or more circulating cancer cells in 7.5 mL of whole blood correlated with reduced overall survival. Furthermore, the presence of extensive bone metastases, as detected by PET/CT, was shown to be associated with increased circulating tumor cells (CTC).

Detection and Significance of Circulating Tumor Cells in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

In this review of 195 patients with metastatic breast cancer, detection of 5 or more circulating cancer cells in 7.5 mL of whole blood correlated with reduced overall survival. Furthermore, the presence of extensive bone metastases, as detected by PET/CT, was shown to be associated with increased circulating tumor cells (CTC).