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EpCAM: structure and function in health and disease

Ulrike Schnell1, Vincenzo Cirulli, Ben N G Giepmans

  • 1Dept. of Cell Biology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is crucial for cell adhesion and tissue plasticity. Recent insights into EpCAM signaling reveal its role in cancer proliferation and potential for regenerative medicine therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was discovered over 30 years ago.
  • EpCAM is a cell adhesion molecule with significant interest as a cancer therapy target.
  • Recent mechanistic insights into EpCAM functions are emerging due to its complex nature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functions of EpCAM in cell-cell adhesion, tissue plasticity, proliferation, and differentiation.
  • To highlight knowledge derived from human diseases related to EpCAM.
  • To discuss EpCAM signaling pathways in cancer and their therapeutic implications.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of EpCAM functions and disease associations.
  • Analysis of EpCAM's role in cell adhesion strength and tissue plasticity.
  • Investigation of EpCAM-mediated signaling in cancer proliferation.

Main Results:

  • EpCAM modifies cell-cell contact adhesion strength and tissue plasticity.
  • Mutant EpCAM absence from the cell surface causes congenital tufting enteropathy.
  • EpCAM-mediated cancer cell proliferation involves signaling via regulated intramembrane proteolysis and/or specialized membrane microdomain associations.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding EpCAM signaling is key to developing optimized cancer therapies.
  • New insights into EpCAM offer potential avenues in regenerative medicine.
  • EpCAM's diverse functions and complex regulation are critical for its biological roles.

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