In HCC, 71.4% of patients had CTCs positive for the CSC marker CD44; thus, they had a significant population of CTCs with CSC properties.65 Most current CTC capture methods are based on epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) detection, including HCC.66,67 EpCAM is also a commonly used biomarker for liver CSC isolation.18,68 Stem cell – like phenotypes have been confirmed in HCC EpCAM+ CTCs by testing the expression of stem cell-related markers and high tumorigenic ability.69 Here, CD44 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.