Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted immunomagnetic liposomes for circulating tumor cell enumeration in non-small cell lung cancer treated with epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors

•Establishment of CTC enrichment system by antibody modified EGFR-ML in NSCLC is feasible.•Lower CTC numbers at one month after EGFR-TKI was associated with partial response during treatment.•Patients with lower CTC numbers at 3 month after EGFR-TKI achieved a longer progression-free survival.•CTC enumeration by EGFR-ML may supplement RECIST in dynamically monitoring NSCLC patients’ response to first-line EGFR-TKI.