Multi-parameter immunofluorescence on the post-radiotherapy filtered blood sample blood revealed >150 CTCs (CD45−/CD144−) cells/ml comprising epithelial CK+/vimentin− (23%), mesenchymal CK−/vimentin+ (30%), and mixed phenotype CK+/vimentin+ (47%) CTCs; circulating tumour microemboli containing cells of all three phenotypes were also detected (Figure 2A and B). The gene discussed is VIM; the disease is neoplasm.