Publication Name	World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Manuscript ID	115664
Country	China

Category	Oncology
Manuscript Type	Retrospective Cohort Study
Article Title	Preoperative circulating tumor cells as a prognostic indicator in gastric cancer
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Qiu-Xian Chen, Wei-Ming Zeng, Yong-Bin Zhang, Yi-Chen Cai, Chen-Bin Lv, Yu-Qin Sun and Li-Sheng Cai
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province 2024J011567
Corresponding Author	Li-Sheng Cai, Adjunct Associate Professor, Chief Physician, Department of Gastric and Small Bowel Surgery, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 59 West Shengli Road, Zhangzhou 363000, Fujian Province, China. wxccls2024@163.com
Key Words	Gastric cancer; Circulating tumor cells; Clinicopathological characteristics; Survival; Risk stratification
Core Tip	This study demonstrates that preoperative detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a potent and minimally invasive prognostic tool for gastric cancer. We found that CTCs-positive status was significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features, including advanced tumor stage and metastasis. Importantly, CTCs positivity was an independent predictor of significantly shorter progression-free survival. These findings strongly support the integration of preoperative CTCs testing into standard clinical practice to enhance risk stratification and guide personalized treatment decisions for patients with gastric cancer.
Citation	Chen QX, Zeng WM, Zhang YB, Cai YC, Lv CB, Sun YQ, Cai LS. Preoperative circulating tumor cells as a prognostic indicator in gastric cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2025; In press

Received	2025-10-22 08:57
Peer-Review Started	2025-10-22 08:57
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-11-14 09:23
Return for Revision	2025-11-17 13:00
Revised	2025-12-01 07:49
Publication Fee Transferred	2025-12-04 14:22
Second Decision by Editor	2025-12-30 02:36
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2025-12-30 08:53
Articles in Press	2025-12-30 08:53
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5204 (online)
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