Abstract
EpCAM is an attractive target for cancer therapy and the EpCAM-specific antibody catumaxomab has been used for intraperitoneal treatment of EpCAM-positive cancer patients with malignant ascites. New prognostic markers are necessary to select patients that mostly benefit from catumaxomab. Recent data showed that soluble EpCAM (sEpCAM) is capable to block the effect of catumaxomab in vitro. This exploratory retrospective analysis was performed on archived ascites samples to evaluate the predictive role of sEpCAM in catumaxomab-treated patients. Sixty-six catumaxomab-treated patients with an available archived ascites sample were included in this study and tested for sEpCAM by sandwich ELISA. All probes were sampled before treatment start and all patients received at least one catumaxomab infusion. Overall survival, puncture-free survival and time to next puncture were compared between sEpCAM-positive and -negative patients. We detected sEpCAM in ascites samples of 9 patients (13.6%). These patients showed a significantly shorter overall survival. The prognostic significance of sEpCAM in ascites was particularly strong in patients with ovarian cancer. Puncture-free survival and time to next puncture were not significantly different between sEpCAM-positive and -negative patients. We propose sEpCAM in malignant ascites as a potential predictive marker in cancer patients treated with catumaxomab. Prospective studies with larger patients samples are urgently needed to confirm these findings and studies testing dose-intensified catumaxomab in patients with sEpCAM-positive ascites should be envisaged.
Highlights
IntroductionThe Epithelial cell adhesion antigen EpCAM (gene name TACSTD1) has been identified as tumour associated antigen on carcinomas of various origins
The Epithelial cell adhesion antigen EpCAM has been identified as tumour associated antigen on carcinomas of various origins. It rapidly emerged as an attractive target for specific immunologic approaches and the first monoclonal antibody that was ever used in patients with gastrointestinal tumours three decades ago was the EpCAM-directed monoclonal antibody 17-1A [1]
We have recently summarized the EpCAM expression rates in most human tumour entities [4] and we have shown that the expression in metastases usually reflects that of the primary tumour tissue
Summary
The Epithelial cell adhesion antigen EpCAM (gene name TACSTD1) has been identified as tumour associated antigen on carcinomas of various origins. It rapidly emerged as an attractive target for specific immunologic approaches and the first monoclonal antibody that was ever used in patients with gastrointestinal tumours three decades ago was the EpCAM-directed monoclonal antibody 17-1A [1]. EpCAM is frequently expressed in normal epithelia [2]. We have recently summarized the EpCAM expression rates in most human tumour entities [4] and we have shown that the expression in metastases usually reflects that of the primary tumour tissue. Soft-tissue tumours and all haematological neoplasms are usually EpCAM negative
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
