AFP and cirrhosis of liver: CTC-WBCs were significantly associated with larger tumors and high AFP levels (OR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.58–4.44, P < 0.001; OR = 2.52, 95% CI: 1.50–4.22, P < 0.001, respectively) but not significantly associated with liver cirrhosis (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.68–1.89, P = 0.64) (Fig. 2)).