Vein-first Lobectomy for Lung Cancer Assessed According to the Status of Clustered Circulating Tumour Cells

Background/Aim: Vein-first lobectomy (VFL) in lung cancer might reduce shedding of circulating tumour cells (CTCs). This study assessed the clinical significance of VFL. Patients and Methods: Lung cancer patients undergoing lobectomy and CTC testing were evaluated. The primary evaluation item was postoperative clustered CTC detection, and the secondary outcome measures were the 2-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates according to the status of VFL and postoperative clustered CTC. Results: Eighty-six patients with similar backgrounds, except for lobe resection and pulmonary vein dissection time, showed postoperative clustered CTC identification rates of 43.8% and 37.9% in the VFL group (n=57) and no-VFL group (n=29), respectively. However, prognosis was not significantly different, although the presence of clustered CTC after surgery was a predictor of recurrence. Conclusion: The status of postoperative clustered CTC was similar regardless of VFL or not, although the detection of clustered CTC was a predictor of recurrence.