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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be isolated from the peripheral blood of cancer patients. Several studies to assess the prognostic and/or predictive role of CTCs have been performed in lung cancer patients.
Areas covered: The state-of-the-art of the role of CTCs in lung cancer patients is reviewed and discussed. A structured search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature and of main meetings using a focused review question was undertaken.
Expert commentary: Although in the revised studies different technologies, cutoffs, patients’ populations and statistical approaches have been used, a high CTCs count as prognostic role in small-cell lung cancer is suggested, whereas additional studies are required to confirm this correlation in non-small-cell lung cancer. A reduction in CTCs count is also likely to be correlated with the lung cancer patients’ outcome. Large prospective trials need to confirm the prognostic and/or predictive role of CTCs in lung cancer.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.