scholarly journals Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule: An Anchor to Isolate Clinically Relevant Circulating Tumor Cells

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1836
Author(s):  
Zahra Eslami-S ◽  
Luis Enrique Cortés-Hernández ◽  
Catherine Alix-Panabières
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

In the last few decades, the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) has received increased attention as the main membrane marker used in many enrichment technologies to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Although there has been a great deal of progress in the implementation of EpCAM-based CTC detection technologies in medical settings, several issues continue to limit their clinical utility. The biology of EpCAM and its role are not completely understood but evidence suggests that the expression of this epithelial cell-surface protein is crucial for metastasis-competent CTCs and may not be lost completely during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In this review, we summarize the most significant advantages and disadvantages of using EpCAM as a marker for CTC enrichment and its potential biological role in the metastatic cascade.

scholarly journals Quick chip assay using locked nucleic acid modified epithelial cell adhesion molecule and nucleolin aptamers for the capture of circulating tumor cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 054110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nihal G. Maremanda ◽  
Kislay Roy ◽  
Rupinder K. Kanwar ◽  
Vidyarani Shyamsundar ◽  
Vijayalakshmi Ramshankar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Locked Nucleic Acid ◽  
Chip Assay ◽  
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule

Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-positive Circulating Tumor Cells as Predictive Biomarker in Patients With Prostate Cancer

Urology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1303-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Amato ◽  
Vladislava Melnikova ◽  
Yujian Zhang ◽  
Wen Liu ◽  
Somyata Saxena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Circulating Tumor Cells ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Predictive Biomarker ◽  
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule

scholarly journals Expression and function of epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM: where are we after 40 years?

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 969-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Gires ◽  
Min Pan ◽  
Henrik Schinke ◽  
Martin Canis ◽  
Patrick A. Baeuerle
Keyword(s):  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Prognostic Marker ◽  
Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) was discovered four decades ago as a tumor antigen on colorectal carcinomas. Owing to its frequent and high expression on carcinomas and their metastases, EpCAM serves as a prognostic marker, a therapeutic target, and an anchor molecule on circulating and disseminated tumor cells (CTCs/DTCs), which are considered the major source for metastatic cancer cells. Today, EpCAM is reckoned as a multi-functional transmembrane protein involved in the regulation of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, stemness, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of carcinoma cells. To fulfill these functions, EpCAM is instrumental in intra- and intercellular signaling as a full-length molecule and following regulated intramembrane proteolysis, generating functionally active extra- and intracellular fragments. Intact EpCAM and its proteolytic fragments interact with claudins, CD44, E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and intracellular signaling components of the WNT and Ras/Raf pathways, respectively. This plethora of functions contributes to shaping intratumor heterogeneity and partial EMT, which are major determinants of the clinical outcome of carcinoma patients. EpCAM represents a marker for the epithelial status of primary and systemic tumor cells and emerges as a measure for the metastatic capacity of CTCs. Consequentially, EpCAM has reclaimed potential as a prognostic marker and target on primary and systemic tumor cells.

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