Comparisons between the hematocytological counts at different sampling sites.

<p>Hematocytological counts are shown for all comparisons with P<.10 for both the raw and normalized cell counts. The univariate T/W method shows the P value for the two-sided paired t-test ‘T’ (‘Ln’ when a natural logarithm was applied) or Wilcoxon paired-matched signed rank (‘W’) in case normality didn’t hold. The Bonferroni and Benjamini columns show the adjusted significance levels according to the method applied. Sensitivity for outliers was investigated for the raw cell counts. See Materials & Methods for more information.</p><p>Results annotated with ‘*’ are considered significant for the method applied. <i>Sites</i> comparison between sampling sites; <i>ARD</i> average relative difference; <i>PLT</i> platelets; <i>MON</i> monocytes; <i>BAS</i> basophils; <i>NGC</i> neutrophils; <i>LEU</i> leukocytes; <i>RBC</i> red blood cells; <i>HCT</i> hematocrit; <i>RD</i> radial artery vs. dorsal hand veins; <i>RE</i> radial artery vs. antecubital veins; <i>DE</i> dorsal hand veins vs. antecubital veins; <i>NA</i> not applicable.</p>a<p>After omission of outliers the ARD for RE reduced to 3.4% and for DE to 3.7% with significances similar to before.</p

Comparisons between the lymphocyte subpopulation counts at different sampling sites.

<p>Lymphocyte subpopulation counts are shown for all comparisons with P<.10 for both the relative and absolute cell counts. The univariate T/W method shows the P value for the two-sided paired t-test ‘T’ (‘Ln’ when a natural logarithm was applied) or Wilcoxon paired-matched signed rank (‘W’) in case normality didn’t hold. The Bonferroni and Benjamini columns show the adjusted significance levels according to the method applied. Sensitivity for outliers was performed for the relative cell counts. The mixed column shows all comparisons with P<.10 assessed as contrasts within a multivariate analysis for the relative counts for the lymphocyte subpopulations using SAS 9.2. The mixed joint column shows the multivariate P value. See Materials & Methods for more information.</p><p>Results annotated with ‘*’ are considered significant for the method applied. <i>Sites</i> comparison between sampling sites; <i>ARD</i> average relative difference; <i>PLT</i> platelets; <i>NGC</i> neutrophils; <i>WBC</i> white blood cells; <i>RBC</i> red blood cells; <i>HCT</i> hematocrit; <i>RD</i> radial artery vs. dorsal hand veins; <i>RE</i> radial artery vs. antecubital veins; <i>DE</i> dorsal hand veins vs. antecubital veins.</p>a<p>After omission of outliers the P value from the paired t-test was 0.093 with ARD 6.7%. The multivariate analysis showed a P value of 0.014.</p>b<p>After omission of outliers the P value from the paired t-test was 0.11 with ARD 3.3%. The multivariate analysis showed a P value of 0.042.</p

Comparisons between the lymphocyte subpopulation median fluorescence intensities of the skin homing marker CLA at different sampling sites.

<p>Lymphocyte subpopulations with comparisons between sampling sites for the CLA median fluorescence intensities with P<.10 are shown for the raw data and in addition for the data after omission of outliers. Comparisons with P>.10 after omission of outliers and with P<.10 for the raw data are also shown. The univariate T/W method shows the P value for the two-sided paired t-test ‘T’ (‘Ln’ when a natural logarithm was applied) or Wilcoxon paired-matched signed rank (‘W’) in case normality didn’t hold. The Bonferroni and Benjamini columns show the adjusted significance levels according to the method applied See Materials & Methods for more information.</p><p>Results annotated with ‘*’ are considered significant for the method applied. <i>Sites</i> comparison between sampling sites; <i>ARD</i> average relative difference; <i>RD</i> radial artery vs. dorsal hand veins; <i>RE</i> radial artery vs. antecubital veins; <i>DE</i> dorsal hand veins vs. antecubital veins; <i>NO</i> no outliers.</p

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of An 8-gene mRNA expression profile in circulating tumor cells predicts response to aromatase inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer patients

Kaplan-Meier curve as defined by CTC count for the total cohort of 78 patients. Blue (0): <5 CTCs at baseline; red (1): ≥5 CTCs at baseline. (XLSX 15 kb

Additional file 3: Table S1. of An 8-gene mRNA expression profile in circulating tumor cells predicts response to aromatase inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer patients

Cohort of in- (N = 45) and excluded (N = 33) patients and their clinico-pathological characteristics. (TIF 23 kb

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of An 8-gene mRNA expression profile in circulating tumor cells predicts response to aromatase inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer patients

Flowchart depicting the numbers of patients included and excluded from the study. (TIF 18.6 kb