The Role Of Circulating Tumor Cells As Markers Of Advanced Disease And Prognosis In HCC

Finding The Seeds Of Recurrence: The Role Of The Liquid Biopsy To Detect Circulating Tumor Cells As Markers Of Advanced Disease And Prognosis In HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurs in up to 60% of patients who undergo resection. Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have been advocated as promotors of the recurrence. However, their role as prognostic markers in the surgical setting is unclear. The aim of the present study has been to assess the association between CTC from peripheral blood samples and the risk of recurrence after surgery. Patients with a first diagnosis of HCC, no previous treatment for this condition, no other oncological history, and BCLC stage 0-A-B will be enrolled in 2 centers. Patients will undergo to serial liquid biopsies (i.e., a 15ml peripheral blood sample on each time point) at day 0-30-90-180-365 after surgery. After isolation of peripheral blood mononucleate cells, CTC will be detected by FACSymphony™ and subsequently the following markers will be identified: EpCAM, N-cadherin (N-cad) and CD90. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) will be analyzed by an index estimated as the ratio between the number of EpCAM+/N-cad- and EpCAM+/N-cad+ cells (EMT Index). Patients will be divided according to the recurrence status.

The Role Of Circulating Tumor Cells As Markers Of Advanced Disease And Prognosis In HCC

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