Prognostic role of circulating tumor cells in patients with EGFR-mutated or ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer

摘要: BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts at baseline and follow-up are an independent prognostic factor in patients receiving standard chemotherapy for non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). This study further explored the role of CTCs EGFR-mutated ALK-rearranged NSCLC administered targeted therapies as first-line treatment. METHODS were enumerated with a novel high-efficiency detection method from blood 43 or disease-progression. Patients stratified into favorable unfavorable groups CTC < 8 ≥ CTCs/3.2 mL, respectively. RESULTS A total 76.7% positive 2 /3.2 ml baseline. The median progression-free survival (PFS) overall (OS) rates compared to group longer (11.6 vs. 8.5 months, P = 0.004 PFS; 21.00 17.7 0.013 OS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that count was strong predictor PFS (hazard ratio 2.835; 95% confidence interval 1.240-6.483; 0.014) OS 3.317; 1.360-8.092; 0.008). CONCLUSION Baseline could be predictive biomarker NSCLCs, which allows better guidance monitoring over course molecular therapies.