After size-gradient and time-gradient shear stress stimulation, the results of immunofluorescence analysis, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting (WB) were concurrent, implying that the expression levels and the nuclear localisation of ATOH8 were increased in CRC m-CTCs (Fig. 1a-f). Here, ATOH8 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.