Based on these data, a further study is needed to define prognostic and therapeutic implications of EpCAM-positive CTC detection in patients staged BCLC A or B. In this study, focusing on patients with early stage HCC (BCLC stage A or patients without cirrhosis), we applied the CSS to uncover an occult metastatic disease. The gene discussed is EPCAM; the disease is metastatic neoplasm.