TY - JOUR T1 - Circulating Tumor Cells With Epithelial–to–mesenchymal Transition Phenotypes Associated With Inferior Outcomes in Primary Breast Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 1829 LP - 1837 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.13290 VL - 39 IS - 4 AU - MICHAL MEGO AU - MARIAN KARABA AU - GABRIEL MINARIK AU - JURAJ BENCA AU - JURISOVA SILVIA AU - TATIANA SEDLACKOVA AU - DENISA MANASOVA AU - KATARINA KALAVSKA AU - DANIEL PINDAK AU - MASSIMO CRISTOFANILLI AU - JAMES M. REUBEN AU - JOZEF MARDIAK Y1 - 2019/04/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/4/1829.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) comprise a heterogeneous population of cancer cells with different clinical and biological value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CTCs with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype in primary breast cancer (PBC) patients. Patients and Methods: This study included 427 primary breast cancer patients. RNA extracted from CD45-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) was evaluated for the expression of EMT transcription factors (TWIST1, SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1) by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: In total, CTC EMT was detected in 77 (18.0%) patients. Patients without detectable CTC EMT in peripheral blood had significantly longer disease-free survival than patients with detectable CTC EMT. The prognostic value of CTC EMT was demonstrated in all subgroups of patients. Conclusion: CTCs with an EMT phenotype have a prognostic value in primary breast cancer. ER -