Abstract
There is an urgent need for new imaging modalities in prostate carcinoma staging. A non-invasive modality that can assess lymph node and bone metastases simultaneously is preferred. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a membranous protein of interest as an imaging target since it is overexpressed in prostatic carcinoma compared with benign prostate epithelium and compared with stroma. However, EpCAM expression in lymph node metastases is sparsely available in the literature and EpCAM expression in bone metastases is yet unknown. The current study evaluates the expression of EpCAM in prostate carcinoma lymph nodes, in matched normal lymph nodes, in prostate carcinoma bone metastases, and in normal bone by immunohistochemistry. EpCAM was expressed in 100% of lymph node metastases (21 out of 21), in 0% of normal lymph nodes (0 out of 21), in 95% of bone metastases (19 out of 20), and in 0% of normal bone (0 out of 14). Based on these results, EpCAM may be a feasible imaging target in prostate carcinoma lymph node and bone metastases. Prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm current results. Preoperative visualization of prostate carcinoma metastases will improve disease staging and will prevent unnecessary invasive surgery.
Highlights
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), known as CD326 and 17-1A antigen, is a transmembrane glycoprotein originally identified as a marker for carcinoma [1]
EpCAM was significantly overexpressed in metastasized prostate carcinoma compared with benign prostate hyperplasia, which served as a normal control [6]
EpCAM was expressed in 100% of prostate carcinoma lymph node metastases and 95% of prostate carcinoma bone metastases
Summary
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), known as CD326 and 17-1A antigen, is a transmembrane glycoprotein originally identified as a marker for carcinoma [1]. EpCAM functions as a cell adhesion molecule in benign and malignant epithelial cells [2]. Its role includes signaling, cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation [1,3,4]. EpCAM has been found expressed in various types of carcinoma, including colon and rectum, gallbladder, liver, esophagus, lung, head and neck, pancreas, ovarian, breast, and prostate carcinoma [3,4,5]. There are several studies that show a significantly elevated expression of EpCAM in prostatic carcinoma compared with benign prostate epithelium [5,6,7].
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