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. The gene discussed is TWIST1; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.