Abstract
BackgroundThe tumor-associated calcium signal transducer (TACSTD) genes, originally designated epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and TROP2, represent true oncogenes. Little is known about EpCAM and TROP2 gene expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This study evaluated EpCAM and TROP2 protein expression and clinicopathologic significance in cases of NSCLC.MethodsTissue microarray blocks acquired from 164 cases of NSCLC, including 100 cases of adenocarcinoma (AdC) and 64 of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), were examined by immunohistochemical staining for EpCAM, and TROP2. The results were correlated with clinicopathologic data.ResultsEpCAM and TROP2 were significantly overexpressed in SCC than in AdC (P < 0.01). In AdC, EpCAM overexpression was closely related to sex, histologic grade, pathologic T stage, pathologic N stage, and TNM stage, and TROP2 overexpression was only related to histologic grade (P < 0.05, respectively). In SCC, correlations were evident between EpCAM overexpression and TNM stage (P = 0.01), and between TROP2 overexpression and pathologic T stage (P = 0.02). EpCAM overexpression showed no significance with overall survival in AdC and SCC patients. However, TROP2 overexpression in AdC had a positive influence on overall survival (P = 0.02) and disease-free survival (P = 0.03). In particular, AdC patients with stage II or III showed better overall survival (P = 0.05) and disease-free survival (P = 0.04).ConclusionsWhile EpCAM and TROP2 show weak and non-complete membranous staining in normal bronchial epithelium and pneumocyte, their complete membranous expression in carcinoma suggests their role in carcinogenesis. EpCAM and TROP2 were more frequently overexpressed in SCC. EpCAM overexpression had no prognostic value in this study, but TROP2 overexpression showed better survival in AdC patients and might be a better prognostic marker in advanced stage AdC.
Highlights
The tumor-associated calcium signal transducer (TACSTD) genes, originally designated epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and TROP2, represent true oncogenes
The present study focused on the differential expression of EpCAM and TROP2 according to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or adenocarcinoma (AdC) histology, because certain genetic lesions may play different biological roles depending on the histological subtypes [12]
EpCAM and TROP2 expression in normal bronchial epithelium Immunoreactivity of EpCAM and TROP2 was evaluated in 164 patents with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)
Summary
The tumor-associated calcium signal transducer (TACSTD) genes, originally designated epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and TROP2, represent true oncogenes. Little is known about EpCAM and TROP2 gene expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). EpCAM mediates epithelium-specific, Ca2+-independent homotypic cell-cell adhesion and represents the first human tumor associated antigen to be discovered. It has been used as an immunotherapeutic target of carcinoma. EpCAM is expressed on the basolateral surface of normal simple, pseudostratified, and transitional epithelia It is overexpressed in various human carcinomas, including those of the colon and rectum, prostate, liver, esophagus, lung, head and neck, pancreas, and breast [6]. EpCAM expression is associated with better survival in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients [8] and is related to shortened survival in nodepositive breast cancer patients [9]
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