AFP	alpha-fetoprotein
Anoikis	programmed cell death upon detachment of cells from the extracellular matrix and neighboring cells
ASGPR	asialoglycoprotein receptor
BCLC	Barcelona clinic liver cancer
C6/MMSN-GPC3	CTC capturing system that utilizes immunomagnetic fluorescent nanodevices targeting GPC3
CECs	circulating epithelial cells
cHCC-CCA	combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma
CPS1	carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1
CSCs	: cancer stem cells
CT	computed tomography
CTCs	circulating tumor cells - tumor cells that have detached from the primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream
CTC-WBC	clusters composed of CTCs and white blood cells circulating in the bloodstream
ctDNA	circulating tumor DNA - tumor-derived fragmented DNA originating from primary or metastatic cancer sites.
DFS	disease-free survival
EHM	extrahepatic metastasis
EMT	epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition – a cellular process in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypes and behavior
EpCAM	epithelial cell adhesion molecule
ER	early recurrence
FISH	fluorescence in situ hybridization
FMSA	flexible micro spring array
GNB4	guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-4
GPC3	glypican-3
HCC	hepatocellular carcinoma
HKR	higher karyoplasmic ratio
ICAM	intercellular adhesion molecule
ISET	isolation by size of tumor cells
ISH	in situ hybridization
LDT	liver-directed therapy
Liquid biopsy	A laboratory test conducted on a blood, urine, or other body fluid sample to detect cancer cells derived from a tumor or small fragments of DNA, RNA, or other molecules released by tumor cells
LR	liver resection
LT	liver transplantation
MACS	magnetic-activated cell separation
M-CTCs	mesenchymal phenotype of CTCs
MELD	model for end-stage liver disease
MMP	matrix-metalloproteinase
MVI	microvascular invasion
MWA	microwave ablation
MRI	magnetic resonance imaging
mPVI	macroscopic portal vein invasion
NAFLD	nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
NLR	neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
OLT	orthotopic liver transplantation
ORR	objective response rate
OS	overall survival
PAFC	photoacoustic flow cytometry
P-CK	pan-cytokeratin
PFS	progression-free survival
R0 resection	surgical margin microscopically-negative for residual tumor
RFA	radiofrequency ablation
RFS	relapse-free survival
RT-PCR	reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction
SE-iFISH	subtraction enrichment and immunostaining-fluorescence in situ hybridization
SERS	surface-enhanced Raman scattering
sMVP	surface major vault protein
TACE	transarterial chemoembolization
TARE	transarterial radioembolization
TFS	tumor-free survival
TTR	time-to-recurrence
Tumor-derived exosomes	small extracellular vesicles secreted by cancer cells
TNM	tumor (T), nodes (N), and metastases
UCSF	University of California San Francisco
US	ultrasonography
VEGF	vascular endothelial growth factor