<p>Accurate localization of the seizure onset zone (SOZ) is critical for successful surgery in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). To investigate the alterations of network characteristics between the SOZ and non-seizure onset zones (NSOZ) across different seizure stages, the intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) data based brain networks from 29 DRE patients have been constructed using the weighted phase lag index (WPLI) and phase transfer entropy (PTE), respectively. Then, graph theory metrics, such as eigenvector centrality, betweenness centrality, in-degree and out-degree, are calculated to compare network characteristics of SOZ and NSOZ nodes across interictal, pre-ictal, early-ictal and post-ictal periods in multiple frequency bands. Statistical analyses demonstrate that the SOZ exhibits significantly higher eigenvector centrality and betweenness centrality in the beta and gamma frequency bands, serving as network hubs and primary sources of information outflow. By contrast, the NSOZ shows elevated centrality only in the theta and alpha frequency bands during non-ictal states. Moreover, during the pre-ictal to early-ictal transition, the SOZ progressively evolves into hub nodes with enhanced outflow and reduced inflow, whereas the NSOZ shifts toward non-hub status with increased inflow. Importantly, the random forest model utilizing out-degree features of early-ictal gamma frequency band can effectively identify the SOZ, and achieve an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82. Overall, these findings offer a novel network-based perspective on the state-dependent alterations of epileptic seizures in DRE and contribute to the treatment of epilepsy.</p>