Using the CanPatrolTM CTC enrichment technique, and a set of probes for the detection of epithelial (EpCAM, CKs) and mesenchymal (VIM, TWIST1, AKT2, and SNAI1) markers, we studied the presence and phenotypic characteristics of CTCs in 1203 Chinese patients with CRC. This evidence concerns the gene SNAI1 and colorectal carcinoma.