Evaluation of Circulating Tumor Cells in Predicting Therapeutic Response in Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Background and Aims. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have prognostic significance in patients with metastatic cancer, but their utility in predicting the response to tumor therapy is unknown. This study examined the correlation of CTCs with the therapeutic response in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods. Clinical and pathological data from 96 SCLC patients were evaluated in this study. CellSearch kits were used to detect CTCs in peripheral blood samples. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results. At baseline, 47 (50.0%) SCLC patients had detectable CTC counts. Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was found to be associated with CTC thresholds. However, no significant differences. were observed for an association of any threshold CTC count with the treatment response, with gender, age (<= 60 or > 60 years), smoking status, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH), or Ki67 expression. Conclusion. Detection of CTCs in SCLC patients was associated with serum NSE but not with response to cancer therapy. (C) 2016 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc.