Circulating Tumour Cell GALNT13 Expression Is Associated with Prognosis and Treatment Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Reliable circulating biomarkers for prognosis and treatment monitoring in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain limited. Liquid biopsy offers a minimally invasive approach to identify clinically informative tumour-derived markers. Given the emerging role of GalNAc-transferases in cancer biology, we evaluated GALNT13 expression in peripheral blood as a potential biomarker for prognosis and disease monitoring in lung cancer patients. Sensitive molecular assays (nested and digital RT-PCR) were developed to detect GALNT13 mRNA in circulating tumour cells (CTCs). These methods were applied to peripheral blood samples from non-small cell lung cancer patients to assess prognostic value and enable longitudinal monitoring. A cohort of 143 NSCLC patients was analysed, of whom 60% were GALNT13-positive in peripheral blood at baseline. During a five-year follow-up, GALNT13 positivity was significantly associated with reduced overall survival. In several patients, increases in GALNT13 levels preceded radiologic evidence of disease progression. GALNT13 expression in CTCs emerges as a promising biomarker for prognosis and treatment monitoring in NSCLC. Prospective studies in larger cohorts are warranted to validate its clinical utility.