The Value of Diagnosis and Outcome Prediction in CTC for Metastatic NPC Patients

Using Circulating Tumor Cells to Diagnose and Predict Prognosis in Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

A circulating tumor cell (CTC) count is an established prognostic factor in some malignancies such as metastatic breast cancer. However, the value of CTC in diagnosis and outcome prediction of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) patients is not unknown. Through the observational prospective clinical trial, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CTC in diagnosis of mNPC patients will be gained. Further, the value of CTC in outcome prediction of mNPC patients will be uncovered.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically or radiologically confirmed nasopharyngeal non-keratinizing carcinoma (WHO II, III).
• NPC patients with distant metastasis including synchronous distant metastasis at diagnosis and metachronous distant metastasis after radical treatment.
• A Karnofsky performance status score more than 70.
• The participants provided written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of previous or synchronous malignant tumors.
• Suffering from severe mental illness synchronously.
• Suffering from severe heart or lung diseases.
• Obvious abnormality in liver and renal function.
• Women in pregnancy or breastfeeding.