Circulating Tumor Cells Predict Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Jiangmin Zhou1, Wei Xiao2, Jingjing Yu2, Yani Li2, Ran Tao2, Wang Jinlin1, Chen Xiaoping2 and Zhang Zhiwei1*

1Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
2Translational Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China

^*Correspondance to: Zhiwei Zhang 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2911

Abstract

Background: Peripheral blood Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) was detected and their prognostic significance was investigated in HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 137 patients were recruited for the study. The time points for blood collection were one day before the operation, and at 1 month, 2 months after surgery. Preventative adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) treatment was performed in 26 HCC patients 1 month after liver resection. CTCs were detected by the method of Isolation by Size of Epithelial Tumor cells (ISET). Results: The incidence rate for preoperative CTC detection was 73%. The CTC count in 5 mL of blood ranged between 1 and 45, and the mean and median CTC counts were 4.19 and 5 cells, respectively. The results indicated that a preoperative CTC cut-off value of 5 showed the most significant power to predict recurrence. A preoperative CTC ≥ 5 was an independent risk factor for recurrence (P<0.001). The group of patients receiving hepatectomy and TACE sequential therapy showed a more significant decrease in the ΔCTC count (mean ΔCTC, -1.73 vs. -0.66, P=0.019) and a longer Disease-Free Survival (DFS) (median, 16.4 months vs. 11.4 months) and lower recurrence rates (46.2% vs. 64.9%) than the patients who underwent hepatectomy alone (P=0.036). Conclusion: Preoperative CTC ≥ 5 is a predictor for tumor recurrence after resection. Preventively performing TACE after hepatectomy for those patients with so-called high-risk factors leads to decreased CTC counts and improved DFS.

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Cite the article

Zhou J, Xiao W, Yu J, Li Y, Tao R, Jinlin W, et al. Circulating Tumor Cells Predict Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Surg. 2020; 5: 2911..