Table 2 Association of EpCAM⁺ CTCs with clinical characteristics

Age (y)

≤50

13

10

0.224

>50

19

7

Sex

Female

9

4

0.729

Male

23

13

HBsAg

Negative

7

2

0.384

Postive

25

15

HBeAg

Negative

24

12

0.586

Postive

8

5

HBVDNA

<5*10²

21

10

0.703

>5*10²

11

7

Child-Pugh score

A

32

16

0.166

B

0

1

Liver cirrhosis

No

8

4

0.909

Yes

24

13

ALT (U/L)

≤40

19

14

0.103

>40

13

3

AFP (ng/ml)

≤400

28

11

0.060

>400

4

6

Tumor number

Single

30

4

0.210

Multiple

2

3

Tumor size (cm)

≤5

18

11

0.566

>5

14

6

Tumor encapsulation

Complete

15

6

0.436

None

17

11

Satellite lesion

No

30

4

0.210

Yes

2

3

Vascular invasion

No

20

5

0.027*

Yes

12

12

Edmondson stage

I-II

20

11

0.879

II-IV

12

6

BCLC stage

0 + A

30

14

0.210

B + C

2

3

Treg/CD4⁺ (%)

<5.07

29

11

0.026*

≥5.07

3

6

Early recurrence

No

28

7

0.001*

Yes

4

10