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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery

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Open Access 01-04-2018 | Original Article

Correlation Between Postoperative Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Mesenchymal Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood

Authors: Zhong Wang, Lei Luo, Yuan Cheng, Guolin He, Bangjian Peng, Yi Gao, Ze-sheng Jiang, MingXin Pan

Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery | Issue 4/2018

Abstract

Background

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been actively studied for their functions in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. However, the relationship between circulating tumor cells subtypes and hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence is still unclear.

Methods

CTCs were collected from the peripheral blood of 62 postoperative HCC patients. The CTCs were isolated with a filtration-based method. Multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to characterize the CTCs based on mRNA expression levels of epithelial and mesenchymal markers.

Results

Of the 62 HCC patients, 26 were diagnosed with early recurrence (ER) and 36 did not experience recurrence. Comparison between the recurrence group and the non-recurrence group showed the total number of CTCs, mesenchymal CTCs, and mixed CTCs in the recurrence group was significantly higher than in the non-recurrence group. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to define the positive cutoff values as follows: total number of CTCs ≥ 4, mesenchymal CTCs ≥ 1, and mixed CTCs ≥ 3. Analysis showed that portal vein tumor thrombus (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.905, P = 0.023) and mesenchymal CTC positivity (HR = 3.453, P = 0.007) were independent risk factors for ER. The correlation between the presence of mesenchymal CTCs and time to recurrence was further examined, and the results showed significantly shortened postoperative disease-free survival in patients positive for mesenchymal CTCs (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

HCC patients with positive peripheral mesenchymal CTCs have a more serious risk of ER, which could be a potential biomarker in HCC prognosis monitoring.

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Title: Correlation Between Postoperative Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Mesenchymal Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood
Authors: Zhong Wang
Lei Luo
Yuan Cheng
Guolin He
Bangjian Peng
Yi Gao
Ze-sheng Jiang
MingXin Pan
Publication date: 01-04-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1091-255X
Electronic ISSN: 1873-4626
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-017-3619-3

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Correlation Between Postoperative Early Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Mesenchymal Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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