Circulating cancer stem cells: a novel prognostic predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma

Not only tumor progression but also metastasis are the major causes of mortality from a wide range of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In general, tumor cells frequently leave the primary tumor and form metastatic lesions in distant organs. It has been believed that tumor infiltration of blood vessels at the primary tumor site is responsible for the dissemination of tumor cells and the formation of metastatic lesions in distant organs.