EPCAM and cancer: 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.