title: Targeting of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells to prevent postoperative recurrence and metastasis.
abstract: Currently, the main treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves the surgical removal of tumors or liver transplantation. However, these treatments are often not completely curative, as they are associated with a risk for postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are increasingly recognized as the main source for recurrence and metastasis after radical hepatectomies are performed. Many studies have demonstrated the association between the presence of either pre- or postoperative CTCs and an increased risk for HCC recurrence. To improve the therapeutic outcome of HCC, a personalized, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach should be considered, involving the application of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures targeting HCC CTCs in different stages throughout the course of treatment. This article proposes some HCC CTC-based strategies for the treatment of HCC, including the monitoring of HCC CTCs before, during and after radical hepatectomy, therapeutic targeting of HCC CTCs, prevention of the generation and colonization of CTCs, as well as the use of CTC indexes for the selection of indications, prediction of prognoses, and planning of individualized therapeutic regimens. Innovation and technological development of therapies targeting CTCs, as well as their translation into clinical practice, will help to effectively reduce postoperative recurrence and metastasis, and significantly prolong the survival of HCC patients.
authors.affiliation: Yu Zhang, Zhi-Long Shi, Xia Yang, Zheng-Feng Yin, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Yu Zhang, Zhi-Long Shi, Xia Yang, Zheng-Feng Yin, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Yu Zhang, Zhi-Long Shi, Xia Yang, Zheng-Feng Yin, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Yu Zhang, Zhi-Long Shi, Xia Yang, Zheng-Feng Yin, Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Circulating tumor cells; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Individualized treatment; Recurrence and metastasis; Surgical treatment