Association between EPCAM upregulation and clinicopathological parameters and outcomes of breast cancer

EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) protein expression was detected in 45 to 90% of breast cancers in different studies, and high expression levels were associated with poor outcomes in several retrospective analyses. This study aims to investigate the relationship between EpCAM and clinicopathological parameters and survival in breast cancer.

This study was conducted as a Quasi-Experimental Cohort Study to explore 100 breast cancer patients. After the surgical excision of breast cancer, pathology blocks were deparaffinized and subjected to IHC (immunohistochemistry) for EpCAM examination. Using a Roche VENTANA Benchmark GX automated staining instrument and a well-established IHC staining protocol, the expression of EpCAM in breast cancer tissue was assessed. Independent sample T-test and Chi squared and Logistic Regression test with STATA version 17 software were used for data analysis.

The difference in the distribution of the negative state of biomarkers (ER = estrogen receptor, PR = Progesterone receptor) and EPCAM positive group was significant (P-value = 0.002) (P-value = 0.006). A statistically insignificant distinction was observed in the distribution of the HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor) and EPCAM groups (P-value = 0.198). With 30.95% of those in the EPCAM-positive cohort experienced metastasis or recurrence. ER+ and PR+ decreased the chance of EPCAM positive by 0.25 and 0.29, respectively. HER2+ and Basal like breast cancer increase the chances of EPCAM being positive by 1.9 and 2.08, respectively. Basal like breast cancer increases the odds of EpCAM positive 2.19 times. Similarly, N2 and stage 3 increase the odds of EpCAM positive by 1.95 and 0.5 times, respectively.

We found that Basal like breast cancer, HER2+, and stage 3 increase the chance of EpCAM positivity. It seems that EPCAM positive cancer has more chance for recurrence and metastasis.