Characterization and potential clinical implications of different subtypes of circulating tumor cells in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and aims: Using liver-derived circulating tumor cells (CTC) as “liquid biopsy” may be a promising approach for individualizing and monitoring treatment in patients with HCC. However, this is challenged by cellular heterogeneity. Therefore, we wanted to assess whether CTC subtypes are identifiable in the peripheral blood of patients with HCC and whether their distribution is associated with clinical characteristics. Methods: CTC were enriched from peripheral venous blood using density gradient centrifugation and subsequent depletion with immunomagnetic beads. CTC enriched suspensions were spun onto gla…