EpCAM
An adhesion protein on almost all carcinoma cells and the capture molecule for circulating tumour cell tests; the target of the first bispecific antibody ever approved (catumaxomab, 2009).
EpCAM (CD326) is expressed on most carcinomas (colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, lung) and on circulating tumour cells (CellSearch). Catumaxomab (EpCAM×CD3 trifunctional) was approved in the EU in 2009 for malignant ascites, withdrawn commercially in 2017 and re-approved in 2025; edrecolomab (adjuvant colon) failed in the 1990s; oportuzumab monatox (intravesical, BCG-unresponsive NMIBC) received an FDA CRL in 2021. Solitomab (BiTE) was too toxic because of normal epithelial expression. EpCAM CAR-T and ADCs are being tested in gastric and colorectal cancer, and germline EPCAM deletions cause Lynch syndrome via MSH2 silencing.
- Target · the protein and the cell it sits on
- Drug · antibody, small molecule, cell or radioligand
- Effect · signal, damage or kill
In plain words · An adhesion protein on almost all carcinoma cells and the capture molecule for circulating tumour cell tests; the target of the first bispecific antibody ever approved (catumaxomab, 2009).
- 1 · What it is
An adhesion protein on almost all carcinoma cells and the capture molecule for circulating tumour cell tests; the target of the first bispecific antibody ever approved (catumaxomab, 2009).
- 2 · What goes wrong in cancer
Type I transmembrane glycoprotein mediating Ca-independent homotypic cell adhesion; regulated intramembrane proteolysis releases EpICD, which co-activates Wnt/β-catenin target genes (c-MYC, cyclin D1).
- 3 · How drugs use it
No product in this corpus aims at EpCAM yet. Because it sits on the outside of the cell, it can be reached from the bloodstream: antibodies flag the cell, ADCs deliver a toxin, radioligands deliver radiation, and CAR-T or bispecifics bring a T cell.
Biology
Type I transmembrane glycoprotein mediating Ca-independent homotypic cell adhesion; regulated intramembrane proteolysis releases EpICD, which co-activates Wnt/β-catenin target genes (c-MYC, cyclin D1).
- Colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and biliary adenocarcinoma (>90%)
- Breast, ovarian, endometrial and prostate cancer (high)
- Circulating tumour cells (capture antigen)
- Normal epithelia (basolateral, lower level)
Latest papers
topQuery for this target: (TITLE:"EpCAM" OR ABSTRACT:"EpCAM" OR TITLE:"EPCAM" OR ABSTRACT:"EPCAM") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about EpCAM, not a curated reading list.
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