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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
Published on: January 22, 2018
EpCAM: a potential antimetastatic target for gastric cancer
Wenqi Du1, Hongzan Ji, Shanshan Cao
1State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Digestive Diseases of Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
Epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is an attractive immunotherapeutic target to overcome metastasis of a variety of epithelium-oriented cancers. Edrecolomab, one kind of EpCAM monoclonal antibody (Panorex), has been approved for clinical application as postoperative adjuvant therapy in breast and colorectal cancer. However, the role of EpCAM in gastric cancer metastasis remains unclear.
Results:
EpCAM was found to be more highly overexpressed in metastatic gastric cancer than in nonmetastatic samples by immunohistochemistry staining. The expression level of EpCAM in gastric cancer cell lines was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. Downregulation of EpCAM by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly suppressed in vitro adhesive, invasive, and migratory and in vivo metastatic abilities of gastric cancer cells.
Conclusion:
We provide first evidence that EpCAM contributes to the migration of gastric cancer, suggesting that EpCAM-targeted therapy might be a promising strategy in metastatic gastric cancer.
Insights
Epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) promotes gastric cancer metastasis. Targeting EpCAM may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic gastric cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a target for treating various epithelial cancers.
- Edrecolomab, an EpCAM antibody, is approved for breast and colorectal cancer adjuvant therapy.
- The role of EpCAM in gastric cancer metastasis is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of EpCAM in gastric cancer metastasis.
- To determine if EpCAM expression correlates with metastatic potential in gastric cancer.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry staining to assess EpCAM expression in metastatic vs. nonmetastatic gastric cancer samples.
- Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting to determine EpCAM levels in gastric cancer cell lines.
- Small interfering RNA (siRNA) to downregulate EpCAM expression and assess effects on cell behavior.
Main Results:
- EpCAM was significantly overexpressed in metastatic gastric cancer tissues compared to nonmetastatic ones.
- Downregulation of EpCAM using siRNA suppressed gastric cancer cell adhesion, invasion, and migration in vitro.
- EpCAM knockdown also reduced the metastatic potential of gastric cancer cells in vivo.
Conclusions:
- EpCAM plays a crucial role in promoting gastric cancer cell migration and metastasis.
- EpCAM represents a potential therapeutic target for managing metastatic gastric cancer.
