Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42630772›Full record

ArticleJournal of the National Cancer Center2026

Circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meng Zhang, Xiaowei Chen, Qingxin Zhou, Nana Guo, Baoshan Cao, Hongmei Zeng, Wanqing Chen, Feng Sun

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the National Cancer Center, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Meng ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Xiaowei ChenDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Qingxin ZhouTianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China.
Nana GuoHebei Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang, China.
Baoshan CaoDepartment of Medical Oncology and Radiation Sickness, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Hongmei ZengNational Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Wanqing ChenOffice of Cancer Screening, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Feng SunDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often poor, making prediction of prognosis and risk stratification highly significant. However, existing indicators are insufficient for accurately predicting the prognosis of patients with HCC. This study aimed to systematically summarize the value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a prognostic biomarker for HCC patients. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and clinical trials.gov databases were searched to collect observational studies and randomized clinical trials from January 2016 to November 2024. Studies focusing on ctDNA status or ctDNA methylation and prognostic outcomes in HCC patients were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for the primary outcomes: relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Random-effects models were applied considering the potential heterogeneity. Results: A total of 25 studies involving 2490 HCC patients were included. Positive ctDNA status both before and after surgery were significantly associated with shorter RFS (before surgery: HR = 3.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] Conclusions: ctDNA detection was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in HCC patients. The potential applications of ctDNA in prognostic prediction are promising, and the predictive value of ctDNA dynamic change warrants further exploration.

Indexed as

Circulating tumor DNAHepatocellular carcinomaLiquid biopsyPrognosis

Identifiers

PMID42630772
PMCPMC13494607

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.