Dynamic of circulating tumor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma under interventional radiological treatment

Background/Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term dynamics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) under microwave ablation (MWA) or conventional transarterial chemoembolization (C-TACE). The CTCs shortterm dynamics were compared with the clinical course of the HCC-patients.

Methods Blood samples from 17 patients with HCC who underwent MWA (n = 10) or C-TACE (n = 7) were analyzed. Venous blood was taken before and immediately after the radiological interventions to isolate and quantify CTCs by flow cytometry. CTCs were identified as negative for the marker CD45 and positive for the markers Anti-ASGPR, Anti-CD146 and Anti-CD274 (PD-L1). Patients were followed of up to 2.2 years after the radiological intervention.

Results CTCs were detected in 13 HCC patients (76 %) prior to the radiological interventions. The rate of CTCs were decreased significantly after the intervention in patients treated with MWA (0.4 CTCs/ml of blood, p=0.031). In patients who received C-TACE the CTC-rate decreased nonsignificantly (0.3 CTCs/ml of blood, p=0,3). There were no correlation between the short-term CTC dynamic after the radiological intervention and recurrence rate of HCC.

Conclusion This prelaminary data could confirm the tumoricidal effects of MWA in patients with HCC by significantly decreasing CTCs rate.

Publication History

Article published online:
04 January 2021