Previous Names of Ep-CAM
Ep-CAM is a non-calcium-dependent epithelial cell adhesion molecule. Encoded by the GA733-2 gene and located on human chromosome 4q, Ep-CAM is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with a molecular weight of only 40kD, which is unusually small for an adhesion protein. The extracellular domain of Ep-CAM contains two EGF-like domains and a cysteine-poor region, a structural feature that distinguishes Ep-CAM from the four major classes of cell adhesion molecules in the immunoglobulin superfamily (cadherins, integrins, selectins, and adhesion molecules). At the 8th Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigen Conference, it was assigned a new CD number: CD326.
Ep-CAM was discovered by cloning its gene through constructing a cDNA library and screening using antibodies that recognize the protein. Therefore, monoclonal antibody clones obtained by different laboratories have been named 17-1A, MH99, AUA1, MOC31, 323/A3, KS1/4, GA733, and HEA125, among others. The corresponding molecule recognized has different names such as KAS, EGP, EGP-40, CD326, and Ep-CAM.
Ep-CAM is a Marker for Diagnosing Epithelial-Derived Tumors
Ep-CAM is abundantly expressed in simple, transitional, and certain pseudostratified epithelia, mediating calcium-independent homotypic epithelial cell adhesion. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that in many malignant epithelial tumors, the intensity of Ep-CAM expression far exceeds that in normal tissues. Malignant tumor tissues not only highly express Ep-CAM, but the number and intensity of Ep-CAM-positive cells are closely related to the degree of tumor progression.
Philip T et al. used multi-tumor tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis on 3912 human tumor tissue samples and statistically analyzed the positive expression of Ep-CAM molecules. They found that Ep-CAM molecules are expressed in the vast majority of epithelial-derived tumor tissues, with positive rates reaching or approaching 100% in gastrointestinal tumors (such as gastric and colorectal), breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, etc.
Susu Han et al. conducted a retrospective comparative analysis using 4103 published electronic samples of CRC and 458 normal control samples: high expression of Ep-CAM in colorectal cancer was negatively correlated with tumor differentiation, tumor stage, vascular invasion, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Compared with the normal control group, the CRC group showed Ep-CAM expression with a sensitivity value of 0.93, specificity value of 0.90, and AUC value of 0.94 (all values ≥0.9), suggesting that Ep-CAM expression can be used as a biomarker for diagnosing CRC.
Operational Performance Characteristics of Ep-CAM Detection
Ep-CAM Can Serve as a Prognostic Marker for Epithelial-Derived Tumors
Multiple studies have shown that overexpression of Ep-CAM in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer is associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis. However, in poorly differentiated thyroid cancer and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, high Ep-CAM expression may be associated with higher survival rates and a favorable prognosis. A retrospective study by Zhang Di found that EpCAM is overexpressed in 58% of ovarian cancers and is associated with shortened survival time, particularly in stage III-IV and poorly differentiated subtypes. Yang Fan et al. found that Ep-CAM is highly expressed in prostate cancer tissues and negatively correlated with prognosis; the overall survival and metastasis-free survival of prostate cancer patients with high Ep-CAM expression were significantly lower than those with low Ep-CAM expression.
As an epithelial tumor marker, Ep-CAM is closely related to tumor occurrence, development, metastasis, invasiveness, and is closely associated with patient survival duration. In clinical practice, the expression level of Ep-CAM is often evaluated by positive rate, making the selection of high-quality antibodies crucial for Ep-CAM detection.
Related Antibodies from Maixin
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Antibody Name
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Product Number
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Clone Number
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Positive Localization
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Ep-CAM*
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MAB-0850
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MX066
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Cell Membrane
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*Indicates Maixin clone product
References
[1] Xu Huali, Zhu Ke, Feng Yan. Research Progress on the Expression of Epithelial Specific Adhesion Molecule in Tumors [J]. Chinese and Foreign Medical Research, 2020, 18(16):169-171.
[2] Song Yu, Liu Xiaoyan, Zhang Ping, Xu Zhenshan, Song Lihua. Advances in Research on Ep-CAM Molecules and Tumors [J]. Journal of Biology, 2006(04):8-11.
[3]Susu Han,Shaoqi Zong,Qi Shi,Hongjia Li,Shanshan Liu,Wei Yang,Wen Li,Fenggang Hou. Is Ep-CAM Expression a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Colorectal Cancer A Systematic Meta-Analysis[J]. EBioMedicin-e,2017,20.
[4] Philip T. Went M,Alessendro L,et al. Frequent Ep-cam protein expression in human carcinomas[J]. Human Pathology, 2004,122-128.
[5] Zheng Guowen, Wang Li. Relationship between EP-CAM, N-CAM1, C-KIT and Grading, Metastasis, and Prognosis of Primary Liver Cancer [J]. Practical Journal of Cancer, 2020, 35(02):200-204.
[6] Yang Fan, Zhou Xingchun, Dang Shan, et al. High Expression of CD326 in Prostate Cancer Tissues and Its Negative Correlation with Patient Prognosis [J]. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, 2015, 31(10):1399-1403.
[7] Zhang Di. Application and Research Progress of EpCAM in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics [J], 2017, 044(003):280-283.
