Prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells in glioblastoma patients: a pilot study

AIM: Glioblastoma (GB) is an aggressive tumor type and the detection of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in peripheral blood has been related to angiogenesis. MATERIALS & METHODS: A prospective single-center pilot study of CEC detection at diagnosis in 22 patients with GB was performed, using the US FDA-approved CellSearch system. RESULTS: A CEC cutoff value was estimated using a receiver operating curve (ROC) and patients were classified into two groups: <40 CEC/4 ml and >40 CEC/4 ml blood. Median overall survival was 25.33 months for group 1 and 8.23 months for group 2 cases (p = 0.02). There was no correlation between CEC and PWI (perfusion-weighted imaging) RM. CONCLUSION: CEC detection has a prognostic value in GB cases at diagnosis.