Decrease in Circulating Tumour Cell Count Reflects the Effectiveness of Postoperative Adjuvant Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) in Preventing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence

Inclusion Criteria: * definitive pathological diagnosis of HCC based on World Health Organization (WHO) criteria; * underwent curative resection one month ago, CT or MRI detecting no new lesions when recruited; * CTC counts≥2 after resection; * age between 18 and 75 years; * adequate hematologic function (platelet count: \>60 × 109 platelets/L; hemoglobin: \>90g/L; and prothrombin time: \<3 seconds above control); * adequate renal function (serum creatinine: ≤1.5 × upper limit of normal); * Child-Pugh classification A or B grade Exclusion Criteria: * a hypovascular tumor (defined as a tumor with all its parts less contrast-enhanced than the nontumorous liver parenchyma on arterial phase computed tomography scans); * diffuse-type HCC; * evidence of hepatic decompensation including esophageal or gastric variceal bleeding or hepatic encephalopathy; * severe underlying cardiac or renal diseases; * color Doppler ultrasonography showing portal vein tumor thrombosis with complete main portal vein obstruction without cavernous transformation; * obstructive jaundice