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Published on: September 25, 2011

Frequent high-level expression of the immunotherapeutic target Ep-CAM in colon, stomach, prostate and lung cancers

P Went1, M Vasei, L Bubendorf

  • 1Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 40, 4003 Basel, Switzerland. pwent@uhbs.ch

British Journal of Cancer
|January 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is highly expressed in most common human cancers, making it a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Its expression is largely consistent across tumor types, stages, and grades, supporting its therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM; CD326) is a target for immunotherapeutic strategies.
  • Limited data exist on Ep-CAM expression in major human cancers regarding its level, frequency, and impact on patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively analyze Ep-CAM expression in primary colon, stomach, prostate, and lung carcinomas.
  • To investigate the correlation of Ep-CAM expression with tumor stage, grade, histology, and patient survival.

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue microarrays from 4046 primary human carcinoma samples.
  • Standardized conditions were used to assess both the frequency and intensity of Ep-CAM expression.
  • Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate correlations with clinicopathological parameters and survival.

Main Results:

  • High-level Ep-CAM expression was detected in over 87% of colon, gastric, and prostate cancers, and in 63.9% of lung cancers.
  • Ep-CAM negativity was rare, observed in less than 13.5% of lung cancers and even lower percentages in other analyzed malignancies.
  • Significant correlations between Ep-CAM expression and tumor grade were found in colon cancer, while survival correlations were limited, except for moderately differentiated colon carcinoma.

Conclusions:

  • Ep-CAM is frequently expressed at high levels across major human malignancies, with low rates of Ep-CAM-negative tumors.
  • Expression levels are generally consistent across tumor stages, grades, and histologic types, reinforcing Ep-CAM as a prime target for immunotherapy.
  • The high prevalence and consistent expression of Ep-CAM support its utility in developing targeted immunotherapeutic approaches for a broad range of cancers.

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