Table 2 Survival outcomes by three combinations of two parameters: ctDNA status change from baseline to postoperative timepoints, postoperative ctDNA status and whether ACT was conducted or not, and ctDNA status change before and after ACT

DFS by ctDNA status changes from baseline to postoperative timepoints

 Neg-Neg

1.00 (ref.)

 Neg-Pos

4.59

2.37

8.87

 < 0.001

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos-Neg

2.79

2.02

3.87

 < 0.001

0.60

0.31

1.16

0.126

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos-Pos

9.01

6.41

12.72

 < 0.001

1.92

0.98

3.75

0.058

3.16

2.22

4.50

 < 0.001

DFS by postoperative ctDNA status and ACT

 Neg_ACT

1.00 (ref.)

 Neg_nonACT

0.54

0.39

0.74

 < 0.001

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos_ACT

3.16

2.17

4.60

 < 0.001

5.70

3.83

8.50

 < 0.001

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos_nonACT

4.79

3.31

6.94

 < 0.001

8.69

5.89

12.83

 < 0.001

1.50

0.97

2.32

0.067

DFS by postoperative ctDNA status and ACT for stage II/III NSCLC

 Neg_ACT

1.00 (ref.)

 Neg_nonACT

0.76

0.40

1.45

0.401

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos_ACT

2.96

1.85

4.76

 < 0.001

3.62

1.76

7.48

 < 0.001

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos_nonACT

6.59

4.02

10.80

 < 0.001

7.99

3.83

16.68

 < 0.001

2.21

1.23

3.95

0.008

DFS by ctDNA status changes before and after ACT

 Neg-Neg

1.00 (ref.)

 Neg-Pos

4.46

1.75

11.35

0.002

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos-Neg

2.06

0.80

5.27

0.132

0.45

0.16

1.30

0.452

1.00 (ref.)

 Pos-Pos

5.49

2.35

12.80

 < 0.001

1.21

0.46

3.22

0.701

2.67

1.01

7.02

0.047