title: Detection of circulating tumour cells in gastric and hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This systematic review was conducted to summarize the use of circulating tumour cell (CTC) detection as a prognostic indicator in gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases (MEDLINE®, EMBASE®, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched to identify studies that reported the detection of CTCs in patients with gastric cancer or HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen studies in patients with gastric cancer and 10 studies in patients with HCC, with a total of 793 and 577 patients, respectively, met the specific inclusion criteria for further analysis. Heterogeneity and potential bias among the studies prevented any statistical analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several methodological techniques have allowed the detection of CTCs in patients with gastric cancer or HCC, but the studies identified in this report generally reported on small cohorts and there was heterogeneity and potential bias in the studies. This highlights the need for large systematic multicentre clinical trials to confirm the potential prognostic benefit of detecting CTCs in patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shun-Chang
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fang-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Jun-Lan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D017594:Publication Bias; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Gastric cancer; circulating tumour cells; hepatocellular carcinoma; systematic review