2005). Blood samples of 9 healthy female dogs and 45 female dogs suffering from malignant epithelial tumours were compared in Turkey. The results showed that EGFR, CLDN7 and EPCAM markers were measurable, and they can be used to provide valuable information on CMTs in terms of clinical pathophysiology (Da Costa et al. 2012). Another study in Germany showed that six mRNA markers (SLC1A1, IRX3, IRX3, CRYAB, ATP8B1 and AGR2) may be suitable for detection of CTCs in CMTs (Massimo et al. 2005). The gene discussed is IRX3; the disease is carcinoma.