Correlation of high body mass index and circulating tumor cell positivity in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

1600^ Background: The prognostic relevance of both body mass index (BMI) and circulating tumor cells (CTC) has been confirmed in different trials for patients with early breast cancer. This analysis evaluates the correlation between high BMI and CTC positivity as risk factors for reduced disease free and overall survival. Methods: Data of 3658 patients of the SUCCESS A trial have been analyzed. CTC count and BMI were documented before (N = 2026) and after (N = 1504) chemotherapy. Within this trial patients with early breast cancer were randomized to two chemotherapy regimens and received either 3 cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel (FE100C-Doc) or 3 cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel and gemcitabine(FE100C-DG). In addition, patients were randomized to zoledronic acid either for 2 or 5 years. CTC were analyzed using the CellSearch System (Veridex, USA). Different groups of bodyweight were classified...