Previously, our group reported the presence of EpCAM+, CK+, DNA−, CD45− “tumour microparticles” and “CTC fragments” that were considered by-products of cancer apoptosis.28,29 These particles have relatively large sizes (>1 μm) and can be isolated together with CTCs from 7.5 mL of peripheral blood after immunomagnetic selection targeting the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) expressed on their surface membrane. Here, PTPRC is linked to cancer.