Table 2 Clinical parameters of patients with RT–PCR-negative and -positive PBSC collection in the whole study population and in the patients with indication of HDCT during primary treatment

From: Incidence and prognostic value of tumour cells detected by RT–PCR in peripheral blood stem cell collections from patients with Ewing tumour

 

HDCT (all indications) ( n =88)

HDCT (indication during primary treatment) ( n =65)

 
 

RT–PCR PBSC collection

RT–PCR PBSC collection

 

Variable

Negative ( n =81)

Positive ( n =7)

Negative ( n =60)

Positive ( n =5)

P -value Fischer's exact test

Initial metastases

 Yes

31

1

31

1

NS

 No

50

6

29

4

 

Initial BM metastases

 Yes

11

0

11

0

NS

 No

70

7

49

5

 

Initial BM micrometastases

 Yes

6

0

4

0

NS

 No

20

1

19

1

 

 NE

55

6

37

4

 

Initial circulating tumour cells

 Yes

2

1

1

1

NS

 No

20

0

18

0

 

 NE

59

6

41

4

 

Number of chemotherapy cycles before PBSC collection (median)

5 cycles

43

5

24

3

NS

 >5 cycles

38

2

36

2

 

Metastases at the time of PBSC collection

 Yes

33

3

19

1

NS

 No

48

4

41

4

 

Disease status at the time of PBSC collection

 CR

35

2

30

2

NS

 No CR

44

5

30

3

 

 NE

2

0

0

0

 

Indication of HDCT

 Primary treatment

60

5

  

NS

 Relapse

21

2

   
  1. RT–PCR=reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction; PBSC=peripheral blood stem cell; HDCT=high-dose chemotherapy; BM=bone marrow; CR=complete remission; NE=not evaluated; NS=not significant.