Mesenchymal circulating tumor cells and Ki67: their mutual correlation and prognostic implications in hepatocellular carcinoma

Table 6 Correlation of the combination of M-CTC and Ki67 with clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients

Parameter	Risk group based on the combination of M-CTC and Ki67			P
	Low risk	Medium risk	High risk
	(n = 40)	(n = 41)	(n = 24)
Sex
Male	34	34	22
Female	6	7	2	0.721
Age (years)
< 45	16	15	12
≥ 45	24	26	12	0.562
HBsAg
Negative	4	5	3
Positive	36	36	21	1.000
HBV-DNA (IU/mL)
< 5.0 × 10²	12	14	4
≥ 5.0 × 10²	28	27	20	0.311
AFP (ng/mL)
< 400	26	14	6
≥ 400	14	27	18	0.002
Tumor size (cm)
< 5	14	9	0
≥ 5	26	32	24	0.004
Tumor number
Single	31	23	11
Multiple	9	18	13	0.025
Edmondson grade
I–II	27	27	9
III–IV	13	14	15	0.037
Tumor capsule
Incomplete	5	16	20
Complete	35	25	4	< 0.001
MVI
Negative	19	13	1
Positive	21	28	23	0.001
PVTT
Negative	37	33	12
Positive	3	8	12	< 0.001
Liver cirrhosis
Negative	3	1	0
Positive	37	40	24	0.357
BCLC stage
0-A	31	20	6
B-C	9	21	18	< 0.001
VCE
Negative	21	18	2
Positive	19	23	22	0.001

AFP alpha-fetoprotein, BCLC Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer, HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen, HBV-DNA hepatitis B virus DNA, MVI microvascular invasion, PVTT portal vein tumor thrombosis, VCE vessel carcinoma embolus

ISSN: 1471-2407