Prognostic significance of EpCAM expression in human esophageal cancer

  • Authors:
    • Hitoshi Kimura
    • Hiroyuki Kato
    • Ahmad Faried
    • Makoto Sohda
    • Masanobu Nakajima
    • Yasuyuki Fukai
    • Tatsuya Miyazaki
    • Norihiro Masuda
    • Minoru Fukuchi
    • Hiroyuki Kuwano
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 1, 2007     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.30.1.171
  • Pages: 171-179
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Abstract

EpCAM is a 40-kDa epithelial transmembrane glycoprotein that has a well-known role in Ca2+-independent homophilic cell-cell adhesion. Recently, correlations between EpCAM expression and clinicopathological features have been investigated in various cancers. We examined EpCAM expression in surgical specimens from esophageal cancer patients (n=138), using real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The mean expression level of EpCAM mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in corresponding normal tissues (P<0.0001). Immunohistochemically, positive staining for EpCAM was found in 135 (97.8%) of the 138 primary tumor specimens. EpCAM expression was correlated with tumor depth (P=0.0005), stage (P=0.0037), blood-vessel invasion (P=0.0397) and infiltrative growth pattern (P=0.0015). The survival rates of patients with tumors with high EpCAM expression was significantly higher than those for patients with tumors with low EpCAM expression (P=0.0213). Furthermore, the serum EpCAM levels of patients with esophageal cancer were significantly higher than those of normal volunteers (P=0.0221). The survival rates of patients with a high EpCAM level in the peripheral vein were also significantly higher than those for patients with a low serum EpCAM level (P=0.0291). The serum EpCAM level in the peripheral vein was independently associated with prognosis (P=0.0074; hazard ratio 7.40). Tumor-specific EpCAM expression and release into the circulation may serve as effective immunotherapy in esophageal cancer patients.

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January 2007
Volume 30 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Kimura H, Kato H, Faried A, Sohda M, Nakajima M, Fukai Y, Miyazaki T, Masuda N, Fukuchi M, Kuwano H, Kuwano H, et al: Prognostic significance of EpCAM expression in human esophageal cancer. Int J Oncol 30: 171-179, 2007.
APA
Kimura, H., Kato, H., Faried, A., Sohda, M., Nakajima, M., Fukai, Y. ... Kuwano, H. (2007). Prognostic significance of EpCAM expression in human esophageal cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 30, 171-179. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.30.1.171
MLA
Kimura, H., Kato, H., Faried, A., Sohda, M., Nakajima, M., Fukai, Y., Miyazaki, T., Masuda, N., Fukuchi, M., Kuwano, H."Prognostic significance of EpCAM expression in human esophageal cancer". International Journal of Oncology 30.1 (2007): 171-179.
Chicago
Kimura, H., Kato, H., Faried, A., Sohda, M., Nakajima, M., Fukai, Y., Miyazaki, T., Masuda, N., Fukuchi, M., Kuwano, H."Prognostic significance of EpCAM expression in human esophageal cancer". International Journal of Oncology 30, no. 1 (2007): 171-179. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.30.1.171