Perioperative CTC Changes Predict Early Relapse in Resectable NSCLC

In a study of 99 patients with resectable NSCLC stratified by lymph node status, specific perioperative shifts in circulating tumor cell counts were linked to disease-free survival. In early-stage cases (cohort 0-1a), minimal changes in CTC counts were associated with no relapse, while in more advanced cases (cohort 1b-4), a significant increase in CTC counts post-surgery predicted a high relapse risk within two years.

Integrating pathologic staging with perioperative CTC dynamics may enable clinicians to identify patients at high risk of relapse, guiding more tailored adjuvant treatment strategies.