EPCAM and neoplasm: Concentration of EPCAM, the most frequently detected marker in AdnaTest positive samples (overall 75% at baseline), was considered as a surrogate marker of CTC burden and associated with tumour stage at different time points (Figure 2). EPCAM levels increased 4-fold from baseline to T1 in samples from M+ patients (median for T0, 0.18; interquantile range [IQR], 0.07–0.42 versus median for T1, 0.84; IQR, 0.33–1.84; p = 0.005), while they did not change following neoadjuvant treatment in M0 patients (median for T0, 0.18; IQR, 0.09–1.01; median for T1, 0.16; IQR, 0.06–0.47).