Survivin-positive circulating tumor cells as a marker for metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 8 Dynamic changes in circulating tumor cell, mesenchymal circulating tumor cell, and survivin-positive circulating tumor cell counts following surgery. A-C: The total circulating tumor cell (CTC) count, mesenchymal CTC proportion, and survivin-positive CTC count decreased dramatically 1 wk after resection. D: Increased survivin-positive CTC count in postoperative hepatocellular cancer patients (n = 10) at 1-12 mo before detectable recurrence or appearance of metastatic lesions, and decreased surviving-positive CTC count in the last 12 hepatocellular cancer patients with no recurrence. ^bP < 0.01. CTC: Circulating tumor cell.