{ "abstract": "Introduction: The prognosis of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) has improved in recent years but therapeutic benefit remains heterogeneous, underscoring the need for reliable biomarkers. Liquid biopsy techniques, including the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on CTCs (PD-L1-CTCs), have emerged as promising tools.\n\nMaterials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in a cohort of mNSCLC patients treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) to evaluate the predictive value of these biomarkers at baseline and at an early time point during treatment. CTCs were captured with the ClearCell® FX platform and then assessed for PD-L1 by immunostaining. Therapeutic drug monitoring of nivolumab and pembrolizumab was performed.\n\nResults: Thirty-seven mNSCLC patients were enrolled. The median CTCs count was 35 CTCs per 7.5 mL of whole blood (standard deviation ± 939). PD-L1-CTCs were detected in 51% of patients. No correlation was found between PD-L1-CTCs and PD-L1 on tumor Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue. Higher-than-median CTCs count was associated with a trend toward worse outcomes. In contrast, PD-L1 expression on CTCs did not predict treatment response. Most patients presented a trough concentration of ICI at cure 3 above 10 µg/mL, regardless clinical response.\n\nConclusion: Baseline CTCs levels tended to be associated with clinical outcomes, whereas PD-L1 expression on CTCs was not. Early evaluation of changes in these two parameters did not improve outcome prediction under ICI treatment. Larger studies with longer follow-up and more in-depth analyses are warranted to further define the prognostic and predictive value of CTC-based biomarkers.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Acute Respiratory Disease and Thoracic Oncology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Oullins-Pierre-Benite, France", "Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Villeurbanne, France", "Center for Innovation in Cancerology of Lyon (CICLY) EA 3738, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Oullins-Pierre-Benite, France", "Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences (ISPB), Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Villeurbanne, France", "Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Oullins-Pierre-Benite, France", "Pharmacology and Toxicology platform, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France", "Clinical Research Platform, Hospices Civils de Lyon - Cancer Institute (IC-HCL), Lyon, France", "Early Phase Studies in Oncology Unit (EPSILYON), Hospices Civils de Lyon - Cancer Institute (IC-HCL), Lyon, France", "Medical Biology Multisite Laboratory (LBMMS), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France", "Pathology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France", "Promise Proteomics, Grenoble, France", "Head and Neck Surgery Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France", "Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology- UMR CNRS 5822/IP2I, Faculty of Medicine and Maieutic Lyon Sud, Oullins-Pierre-Benite, France", "Department of Pharmacology-Physiology-Toxicology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences of Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Villeurbanne, France", "RESHAPE Unit (Research on Healthcare Performance), INSERM U1290, Claude Bernard University Lyon I, Villeurbanne, France" ], "article_type": "research article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 13, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0, 1 ], "name": "Emmanuel Grolleau" }, { "affs": [ 1, 2, 3, 4 ], "name": "David Barthelemy" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Aurélien Millet" }, { "affs": [ 2, 6, 7 ], "name": "Sara Calattini", "orcid": "0009-0009-6821-0323" }, { "affs": [ 8 ], "name": "Gaelle Lescuyer" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Agathe Komaroff" }, { "affs": [ 2, 9 ], "name": "Nazim Benzerdjeb" }, { "affs": [ 10 ], "name": "Dorothée Lebert" }, { "affs": [ 11, 12 ], "name": "Pierre Philouze" }, { "affs": [ 2, 8 ], "name": "Marie Piecyk" }, { "affs": [ 8, 13 ], "name": "Jerome Guitton" }, { "affs": [ 0, 1, 14 ], "name": "Sébastien Couraud" }, { "affs": [ 1, 2, 8 ], "name": "Léa Payen" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/92rket6cmdxcj.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.2147/itt.s614110", "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13723249/", "id": "92rket6cmdxcj", "issns": [ "2253-1556" ], "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.2147/itt.s614110", "language": "en", "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "heading", "Original Research" ], [ "openalex", "2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers" ] ], "openalex": "W7123652250", "pdf_url": "https://www.dovepress.com/article/download/121431", "pmcid": "PMC13723249", "pmid": "42967173", "published": "2026-10-27", "publisher": "Dove Press", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/92rket6cmdxcj.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-11-04T12:21:52Z", "native_id": "PMC13723249", "source": "pmc", "url": "https://doi.org/10.2147/itt.s614110" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2730|Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers", "subfield": "oncology" } ], "title": "Early Assessment of Circulating Tumor Cells and Their PD-L1 Expression as Predictive Biomarkers in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy: An Exploratory Study", "title_text": "Early Assessment of Circulating Tumor Cells and Their PD-L1 Expression as Predictive Biomarkers in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Immunotherapy: An Exploratory Study", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-11-04T12:21:52Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/92rket6cmdxcj", "venue": "ImmunoTargets and Therapy", "versions": [] }