A prospective study on the changes and clinical significance of pre-operative and post-operative circulating tumor cells in resectable gastric cancer.

Pre- and post-operative CTCs are promising prognostic markers for resectable gastric cancer. Our study further suggests that increased post-operative CTCs may be correlated with hematogenous recurrence. Trial registration (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01848015). Registered 7 May 2013. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01848015.