Both plasma and tumor BRCA1 levels were correlated with docetaxel sensitivity (rho = 0.492, P = 0.004 and rho = 0.527, P < 0.001, respectively), and both plasma and tumor TS levels correlated with pemetrexed resistance (rho = -0.627, P < 0.001 and rho = -0.443, P = 0.004, respectively, Spearman rank correlation test) (Additional file 1: Figure S5, A-D, available online). This evidence concerns the gene TYMS and neoplasm.