Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) (EpCAM)

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), historically identified by the monoclonal antibody CO17-1A, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in the majority of human carcinomas (UniProt P16422). It functions as a homophilic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule and plays a critical role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation by acting as a signal transducer (NIH/NCBI Gene ID 4072). Upon proteolytic cleavage, its intracellular domain (EpICD) translocates to the nucleus where it associates with the wnt-signaling pathway to drive oncogenic gene expression (PubMed: 19307310). EpCAM is a major therapeutic target because it is significantly overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells and cancer stem cells compared to healthy epithelial tissue. Therapeutic agents such as edrecolomab and catumaxomab have been developed to target this antigen to induce immune-mediated destruction of cancer cells through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and T-cell recruitment (PubMed: 10438650). Despite its therapeutic potential, the ubiquitous expression of EpCAM in normal epithelial tissues presents challenges for safety and requires careful management of off-target effects.

Other names

17-1A antigenTumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1TACSTD1CD326GA733-2KSATROP1M4S1

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), bispecific T-cell engagement (BiTE), and toxin-mediated cell killing via immunoconjugates.