| Variable | 
        NSCLC patients(%) | 
        Healthy Controls(%) | 
       
      
        | Total no.  | 
        136 | 
        136 | 
       
      
        | Sex   | 
       
      
        | Males  | 
        110(80.9) | 
        110(80.9) | 
       
      
        | Females  | 
        26(19.1) | 
        26(19.1) | 
       
      
        | Age(Years)   | 
       
      
        | <45 | 
        24(17.6) | 
        24(17.6) | 
       
      
        | >45 | 
        112(82.3) | 
        112(82.3) | 
       
      
        | Smoking status   | 
       
      
        | Non Smoker  | 
        33(24.3) | 
        33(24.3) | 
       
      
        | Smokers | 
        103(75.7) | 
        103(75.7) | 
       
      
        | Smoking level(pack year)   | 
       
      
        | Mild(< 10) | 
        9(8.9) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Moderate(< 40) | 
        49(48.5) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Heavy(> 40) | 
        43(42.6) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Histological type  | 
       
      
        | SCC | 
        79(58.1) | 
          | 
       
      
        | ADC | 
        57(41.9) | 
          | 
       
      
        | TNM stage   | 
       
      
        | Early(I & II)  | 
        51(37.5) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Advanced(III & IV)  | 
        85(62.5) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Distant metastasis  | 
       
      
        | Positive | 
        35(25.7) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Negative | 
        101(74.3) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Family history of any cancer   | 
       
      
        | Significant  | 
        18(13.2) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Non significant  | 
        118(86.8) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Cytological    type  | 
       
      
        | Squamous    cell carcinoma  | 
       
      
        | Well differentiated | 
        43(54.4) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Moderately differentiated | 
        22(27.8) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Poorly differentiated | 
        14(17.7) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Adenocarcinoma | 
       
      
        | Well differentiated | 
        11(19.3) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Moderately differentiated | 
        16(28.1) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Poorly differentiated | 
        30(52.6) | 
          | 
       
      
        | Malignant    pleural effusion | 
       
      
        | Yes | 
        54(39.7) | 
          | 
       
      
        | No | 
        82(60.3) | 
          | 
       
      |