Table 2. Comparison of the clinical characteristics between preoperative ctDNA positive and negative group.

Clinicopathologic parameters	Positive group (n=57)			Negative group (n=24)		P value*
	N	%		N	%
Age, years						0.302
≥60	17	21.0		10	12.3
<60	40	49.4		14	17.3
Gender						0.322
Female	7	8.6		5	6.2
Male	50	61.7		19	23.5
HBsAg						0.322
Negative	7	8.6		5	6.2
Positive	50	61.7		19	23.5
Cirrhosis						0.447
No	8	9.9		5	6.2
Yes	49	60.5		19	23.5
Tumor size						0.001
<5 cm	13	16.0		15	18.5
≥5 cm	44	54.3		9	11.1
Tumor number						0.001
Single	25	30.9		20	24.7
Multiple	32	39.5		4	4.9
MVI						<0.001
No	10	12.3		17	21.0
Yes	47	58.0		7	8.6
Tumor encapsulation						0.596
No	25	30.9		9	11.1
Yes	32	39.5		15	18.5
Edmonson grade						0.775
I + II	40	49.4		16	19.8
III + IV	17	21.0		8	9.9
AFP						0.423
<20 ng/mL	23	28.4		12	14.8
≥20 ng/mL	34	42.0		12	14.8
ALT						0.224
<50 μ/L	43	53.1		21	25.9
≥50 μ/L	14	17.3		3	3.7
AST						0.943
<40 μ/L	29	35.8		12	14.8
≥40 μ/L	28	34.6		12	14.8
Child-pugh score						0.242
A	45	55.5		16	19.8
B	12	14.8		8	9.9
BCLC stage						<0.001
0 + A	23	28.4		20	24.7
B + C	34	42.0		4	4.9
Recurrence						0.018
No	24	29.6		17	21.0
Yes	33	40.7		7	8.6

*, analysis by two-sided Pearson’s Chi-square test, with P<0.05 considered significant. ctDNA, circulating tumor DNA; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transaminase.