Minimal residual disease and prognostic significance of circulating tumour cells in early-stage colorectal cancer

Growing evidence from circulating tumour cell (CTC) research supports their potential role as a valuable biomarker in cancer management. In this study involving stage I-III colorectal cancer patients, a recurrence rate of 20% was observed among individuals with detectable CTCs, whereas no recurrence occurred in patients with a sustained absence of CTCs. Despite this apparent difference, the time to recurrence (TTR) did not differ significantly between the groups (log-rank test, P=0.175). Although the result was not statistically significant, the observed trend suggests a possible prognostic value of CTCs that merits investigation in a larger cohort. Furthermore, neither individual time-point measurements nor dynamic changes in CTC levels demonstrated a significant correlation with TTR.