Similarly, a higher PCP was found in patients with a high AFP level (P = 0.0135), multiple tumors (P = 0.0017), larger tumor diameter (P = 0.0002), MVI (P < 0.0001), thrombosis (P < 0.0001), AJCC stage (I vs. II, P = 0.0161; II vs. III, P = 0.2389; I vs. III + IV, P = 0.0017), and BCLC stage (A vs. B, P = 0.0786; B vs. C, P = 0.0830; B vs. C, P < 0.0001), revealing that the CTC number and PCP could be used to assess disease progression in HCC patients (Figure 3B, Table S5). Here, AFP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.