Survivin-positive circulating tumor cells as a marker for metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 Circulating tumor cell classification and survivin expression in circulating tumor cells by RNA-in situ hybridization. A: Circulating tumor cell (CTC) isolation and RNA in situ hybridization analysis of blood samples from patients and healthy controls; B: Detection and classification of CTCs using epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. CD45 was used as a leukocyte marker, and it is indicated by white fluorescence. Epithelial biomarkers (EpCAM and CK8/18/19) were used for epithelial CTCs, which are represented by red fluorescence, and mesenchymal biomarkers (vimentin and Twist) were used for mCTCs, which are represented by green fluorescence; C: Survivin expression in CTCs is indicated by purple fluorescence (Alexa Fluor 647), with the intensity scored as low, moderate, and high (left to right images). CTC: Circulating tumor cell. CTC: Circulating tumor cell.