AFP and neoplasm: In addition, Kaplan–Meier analysis in the derivation cohort also showed that CTC > 2/3.2 mL (P = 0.001), AFP > 20 ng/mL (P = 0.004), DCP > 40 mAU/mL (P = 0.016), the number of multiple tumors (P < 0.001) and maximum tumor diameter > 20 mm (P = 0.001) are independent risk factors for tumor recurrence (Fig. 3a–e).