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Updated: May 17, 2026

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Semi-automatic PD-L1 Characterization and Enumeration of Circulating Tumor Cells from Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients by Immunofluorescence
Published on: August 14, 2019
Circulating tumor cells in non-small cell lung carcinoma
Rogier Boshuizen1, Peter Kuhn, Michel van den Heuvel
1Department of Thoracic Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
Journal of Thoracic Disease
|October 11, 2012
Summary
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) impact cancer patient survival and treatment assessment. Ongoing trials aim to improve the understanding and utilization of CTCs for molecular profiling and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Diagnostics
Background:
- Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are recognized biomarkers linked to cancer patient survival.
- Detecting CTCs is crucial for understanding tumor behavior and patient prognosis.
- The quantity of CTCs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is notably lower compared to other solid tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the prognostic significance of CTCs in cancer patients.
- To investigate the utility of CTCs in monitoring treatment efficacy.
- To highlight the role of CTCs as substrates for molecular tumor profiling.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and ongoing clinical trials on CTC detection.
- Analysis of CTC quantity in relation to survival in various cancer types, including NSCLC.
- Evaluation of methods for CTC isolation and molecular characterization.
Main Results:
- CTCs are significantly associated with patient survival across different cancer types.
- Lower CTC counts are observed in NSCLC compared to other solid malignancies.
- CTCs offer a non-invasive approach for assessing treatment response and enabling personalized medicine through molecular profiling.
Conclusions:
- CTCs serve as critical indicators of prognosis and treatment effectiveness in cancer.
- Further research and ongoing trials are essential for optimizing CTC detection and application, particularly in NSCLC.
- The molecular insights gained from CTCs hold promise for advancing targeted cancer therapies.

