Characterisation of circulating tumor-associated and immune cells in patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer.

Our study reveals a heterogeneous landscape of circulating tumor cells and their clusters, underscoring the complexity of NSCLC pathobiology. The identification of a unique subtype of atypical tumor-associatedmacrophages that simultaneously express both tumor and immune markers and whose presence correlates with late disease stages, poor clinical outcomes and metastatic risk infers  the potential of these cells as biomarkers for NSCLC staging and prognosis. Future studies should focus on the role of these cells in the tumor microenvironment and their potential as therapeutic targets. Additionally, longitudinal studies tracking these cell types through disease progression could provide further insights into their roles in NSCLC evolution and response to treatment.