In the blind comparison study of our method compared with the anti-EpCAM-MNs, we obtained a significantly higher CTC-positive rate (73.17% vs. 48.78%), and it was also higher compared with what had been reported for the CellSearch platform (23–42% of stage IV NSCLC patients had CTC counts ≥ 1)42. The gene discussed is EPCAM; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.