Abstract
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) recently received increased attention not only as a prognostic factor in breast cancer but also as a potential target for immunotherapy. We examined Ep-CAM expression in 402 consecutive node-negative breast cancer patients with long-term follow-up not treated in the adjuvant setting. Ep-CAM expression was evaluated by immunostaining. Its prognostic effect was estimated relative to overexpression/amplification of HER-2, histologic grade, tumor size, age, and hormone receptor expression. Ep-CAM status was positive in 106 (26.4%) patients. In multivariate analysis, Ep-CAM status was associated with disease-free survival independent of age, pT stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), as well as HER2 status (P = 0.028; hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.44). Recently, so-called triple-negative (HER-2, ER, and PR) breast cancer has received increased attention. We noticed a similar association of Ep-CAM with disease-free survival in the triple-negative group as for the entire cohort. In this study of untreated breast cancer patients, Ep-CAM overexpression was associated with poor survival in the entire cohort and in the subgroup of triple-negative breast cancer. This suggests that Ep-CAM may be a well-suited target for specific therapies particularly in HER-2-, ER-, and PR-negative tumors.
Highlights
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) recently received increased attention as a prognostic factor in breast cancer and as a potential target for immunotherapy
Conducting a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, pT stage, histologic grade, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), as well as HER-2 status, Ep-CAM status was associated with DFS (P = 0.028; hazard ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.052.44; Table 2)
Ep-CAM expression was found to be associated with poor prognosis [8]
Summary
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) recently received increased attention as a prognostic factor in breast cancer and as a potential target for immunotherapy. Conclusion: In this study of untreated breast cancer patients, Ep-CAM overexpression was associated with poor survival in the entire cohort and in the subgroup of triple-negative breast cancer. This suggests that Ep-CAM may be a well-suited target for specific therapies in HER-2^ , ER-, and PR-negative tumors. To allow a distinction between a pure prognostic effect of Ep-CAM expression and its role as potential treatment target, we have analyzed, in this study, Ep-CAM expression by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 402 node-negative breast cancer patients from a single institution, who had not received any systemic adjuvant therapy. The clinical relevance of a possible association of Ep-CAM with worse prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer would be that this subtype of breast cancer might be treated with adecatumumab, an antibody directed against Ep-CAM
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.
