Electronic Journal of Liver Tumor ›› 2024, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (1): 21-24.

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical application progress of circulating tumor cells for accurate dynamic monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma

Huang Xiaozhun1, Wang Fuzun2, Xie Yunliang1, Ran Yihong1, Xu Lin1, Huang Zhangkan1, Yin Xin1, Bi Xinyu3, Che Xu1,*   

  1. 1. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, Guangdong, China;
    2. Department of Pediatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen 518001, Guangdong, China;
    3. Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
  • Received:2022-12-30 Online:2024-03-31 Published:2024-05-08
  • Contact: *Che Xu, E-mail: drchexu@126.com

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common neoplasm and a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. There is no ideal biomarker allowing early diagnosis of HCC and tumor surveillance in patients receiving therapy. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have become a useful tool for diagnosing and monitoring therapeutic responses of different tumors in a non-invasive setting, and have great potential for precision medicine delivery in HCC patients. Based on existing clinical application evidence, this review will discuss the application and research progress of CTC in guiding surgical methods, resection margins, interventional therapy and systematic therapy, and other accurate dynamic monitoring.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Circulating tumor cell, Microvascular invasion, Anatomical resection, Non-anatomical resection