Tumor cells of epithelial origin

Tumor cells of epithelial origin, primarily referred to as carcinomas, are malignant cells derived from epithelial tissues that line the internal and external surfaces of the body (National Cancer Institute, 2023). These cells represent approximately 80-90% of all cancer cases, including common malignancies of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon (American Cancer Society, 2024). They are characterized by the expression of intermediate filament proteins known as cytokeratins and cell surface glycoproteins such as the Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM), which serve as critical markers for identification and therapeutic targeting (Went et al., 2004, Human Pathology). In drug development, these cells are targeted using various modalities, including monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Trastuzumab for HER2-positive epithelial tumors) and chemotherapeutic agents that disrupt the rapid cell cycle characteristic of malignant growth (NCBI, 2022). A major challenge in treating these tumors is the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), a biological process where epithelial cells lose their polarity and adhesion, gaining invasive properties that lead to metastasis (Dongre & Weinberg, 2019, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology). Therapeutic interventions must often balance efficacy against on-target, off-tumor toxicities, as many antigens targeted on these tumor cells are also present in healthy epithelial tissues like the skin and gut lining (Marmor et al., 2004, Cancer Cell).

Other names

Carcinoma cellEpithelial cancer cellMalignant epithelial cellEpithelial tumor cell

Drugs targeting these cells typically act by inhibiting growth factor signaling, inducing DNA cross-linking, stabilizing microtubules to prevent mitosis, or utilizing antibodies to trigger immune-mediated cell lysis (PubMed, 2023).