Table 2. Association between peripheral blood CTCs count and baseline data of 50 patients.
| Variables | Count (%) | Peripheral blood CTCs count (%) | ꭓ2 | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| >1 | 0 | ||||
| Age, years | 0.102 | 0.746 | |||
| <50 | 22 (6.7) | 12 (3.7) | 10 (3.0) | ||
| ≥50 | 28 (8.5) | 14 (4.3) | 14 (4.3) | ||
| Gender | |||||
| Male | 48 (14.6) | 25 (7.6) | 23 (7.0) | 0.003 | 0.954 |
| Female | 2 (0.6) | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | ||
| Tumor size (cm) | 5.773 | 0.016 | |||
| ≤6.5 | 31 (9.5) | 12 (3.7) | 19 (5.8) | ||
| >6.5 | 19 (5.8) | 14 (4.3) | 5 (1.5) | ||
| Tumor amount | 0.765 | 0.382 | |||
| ≤3 | 39 (11.9) | 19 (5.8) | 20 (6.1) | ||
| >3 | 11 (3.4) | 7 (2.1) | 4 (1.2) | ||
| PVT | 0.056 | 0.814 | |||
| No | 41 (12.5) | 21 (6.4) | 20 (6.1) | ||
| Yes | 9 (2.7) | 5 (1.5) | 4 (1.2) | ||
| Milan criteria | 2.826 | 0.093 | |||
| No | 27 (8.2) | 17 (5.2) | 10 (3.0) | ||
| Yes | 23 (7.0) | 9 (2.7) | 14 (4.3) | ||
| UCSF criteria | 1.282 | 0.258 | |||
| No | 22 (6.7) | 15 (4.6) | 7 (2.1) | ||
| Yes | 28 (8.5) | 11 (3.4) | 17 (5.2) | ||
| Pre-transplantation treatment | 3.994 | 0.550 | |||
| TACE | 10 (3.0) | 7 (2.1) | 3 (0.9) | ||
| Resection | 2 (0.6) | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | ||
| RFA | 14 (4.3) | 6 (1.8) | 8 (2.4) | ||
| Resection with TACE | 1 (0.3) | 0 | 1 (0.3) | ||
| Resection with TACE and RFA | 1 (0.3) | 0 | 1 (0.3) | ||
| None | 22 (6.7) | 12 (3.7) | 10 (3.0) | ||
| AFP (ìg/L) | 5.454 | 0.020 | |||
| ≤27 | 25 (7.6) | 11 (3.4) | 14 (4.3) | ||
| >27 | 25 (7.6) | 15 (4.6) | 10 (3.0) | ||
| HBsAg | 0.025 | 0.874 | |||
| Negative | 12 (3.7) | 6 (1.8) | 6 (1.8) | ||
| Positive | 38 (11.6) | 20 (6.1) | 18 (5.5) | ||
| Cirrhosis | 2.946 | 0.086 | |||
| No | 3 (0.9) | 3 (0.9) | 0 (0) | ||
| Yes | 47 (14.3) | 23 (7.0) | 24 (7.3) | ||
| Tumor grade* | 6.478 | 0.039 | |||
| Grade I | 5 (1.5) | 0 (0) | 5 (1.5) | ||
| Grade II | 24 (7.3) | 15 (4.6) | 9 (2.7) | ||
| Grade III | 21 (6.4) | 11 (3.4) | 10 (3.0) | ||
| TNM staging | 1.483 | 0.686 | |||
| I | 4 (1.2) | 2 (0.6) | 2 (0.6) | ||
| II | 16 (4.9) | 7 (2.1) | 9 (2.7) | ||
| III | 29 (8.8) | 16 (4.9) | 13 (4.0) | ||
| IV | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | ||
| MVI | 0.056 | 0.814 | |||
| Yes | 9 (2.7) | 5 (1.5) | 4 (1.2) | ||
| No | 41 (12.5) | 21 (6.4) | 20 (6.1) | ||
| Recurrence | 6.211 | 0.013 | |||
| Yes | 12 (3.7) | 10 (3.0) | 2 (0.6) | ||
| No | 38 (11.6) | 16 (4.9) | 22 (6.4) | ||
| Death | 0.588 | 0.443 | |||
| Yes | 6 (1.8) | 4 (1.2) | 2 (0.6) | ||
| No | 44 (13.4) | 22 (6.7) | 22 (6.7) | ||
*, HCC cellular differentiation. CTC, circulating tumor cells; PVT, portal vein thrombosis; TACE, transarterial chemoembolization; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; AFP, preoperative alpha-fetoproteins; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; MVI, microvascular invasions.