A meta-analysis study of twenty-three published studies showed that CTC positivity were also significantly associated with TNM Stage (RR 1.30, 95% CI: [1.02-1.65]; p=0.03), tumor size (RR 1.36, 95% CI: [1.09-1.69]; p=0.006), vascular invasion (RR 1.99, 95% CI: [1.43-2.77]; p<0.0001), portal vein tumor thrombus (RR 1.73, 95% CI: [1.42-2.11]; p=0.0001), serum AFP level (RR 2.05, 95% CI: [1.18-3.54]; p=0.01), suggesting a strong prognostic value of CTC in HCC (111). The gene discussed is AFP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.