After adjustment for possible confounding factors as gender, age and Karnofsky Performance Score at sampling and tumour size, the statistical difference between the two groups remained significant (Cox-regression: chi-square 29.24(5), hazard ratio = 1.967, P = 0.018), Moreover, also brain metastasis, albeit not significant, demonstrated a decreased OS in case of high GFAP+CD16+ monocytes frequencies (log-rank test chi-square = 3.218, P = 0.73) (Supplementary Fig. 9B). The gene discussed is GFAP; the disease is neoplasm.