主权项 |
1. A method for predicting overall survival of a patient having cancer, comprising enumerating pathologically-defined circulating tumor cells (PDCTCs) in a blood sample from the patient, wherein when five or more PDCTCs are present in 7.5 ml of blood, the overall survival of the patient is predicted to be lower than a patient having cancer with four or less PDCTCs present in 7.5 ml of blood, and wherein the PDCTCs are cytokeratin (CK) 8, 18, 19+, CD45−, DAPI+ cells, possess a malignant nucleus, and display a filamentous CK pattern. |