Figure 4. Sensitivity of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to sorafenib.

CTCs isolated from hepatocellular carcinoma patients (n = 20) were tested by spheroid formation assay. A. CTCs from two patients formed spheroids at day 7 in culture with or without sorafenib. B. Formation of spheroids of CTCs treated with or without sorafenib. C. Spheroid formation inhibition rates from patients with ≥ 40% or < 40% of CTCs identified as pERK⁺/pAkt⁻.