Fig. 5

Circulating methylated TMEM240 is increased in Taiwanese breast cancer patients with disease progression and poor hormone therapy response. The level of circulating methylated TMEM240 dramatically and gradually decreased in triple-negative breast cancer patients (A) and in breast cancer patients who received hormone therapy and did not experience recurrence or metastasis (B). C Recurrence and metastasis were detected in triple-negative breast cancer patients when circulating methylated TMEM240 was found in such patients after treatment, and it thereafter increased again. The concentrations of CEA and CA15-3 in serum remained normal. D The level of circulating methylated TMEM240 gradually increased in breast cancer patients with disease progression even after hormone therapy and chemotherapy. The concentrations of CEA and CA15-3 in serum are incapable of early monitoring of disease progression and poor treatment response. E Box plot showing the levels of circulating methylated TMEM240 in the plasma of 32 patients with recurrence/metastasis and in the plasma of 29 patients without recurrence/metastasis. F, G Box plots showing the concentrations of CEA and CA15-3 in the sera of 28 patients with recurrence/metastasis and in the sera of 29 patients without recurrence/metastasis. **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001. H ROC curves for disease progression prediction were calculated using the measured circulating methylated TMEM240 levels and the measured concentrations of CEA and CA15-3. I A box plot of the percentage of Ki-67 expression level in breast cancer tumors from 13 patients with recurrence/metastasis and in tumors from 23 patients without recurrence/metastasis is shown. J ROC curves for disease progression and hormone therapy response prediction were calculated using circulating methylated TMEM240 levels and Ki-67 expression levels