Provided herein is a method for diagnosing/prognosing a metastatic cancer in a subject by measuring and detecting one or more of CS-ANXA2, DCAMKL, Lgr5 or CS-ANAX2 and DCAMKL or CS-ANXA2 and Lgr5 positive circulating tumor stem cells in the subject's blood or plasma. Also provided is a method for distinguishing the presence of early stage primary cancer from advanced stage metastatic cancer in the subject by measuring and detecting AnnexinA2, CS-ANXA2 and DCAMKL1 or Lgr5 in the blood or plasma. In addition, there is provided a method for distinguishing the presence of benign, pre-cancerous tumorous growths or cancerous tumors in the subject by measuring and detecting AnnexinA2 and circulating tumor stem cells positive for CS-ANXA2 and DCAMKL or CS-ANXA2 and Lgr5 in the blood or plasma.

Annexin A3 (ANAX3) is utilized as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the utilization of a monoclonal antibody against ANXA3 or antisense polynucleotide against ANXA3 mRNA for the suppression or treatment of HCC, alone or in combination with other HCC treatment. Monoclonal antibody against ANXA3 can be administered for the suppression of tumor growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance.