Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is a 40 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed in majority of tumor epithelial cells and has a major morphoregulatory function, relevant not only to epithelial tissue development, but also in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Since Ep-CAM localizes at the cell surface of most carcinomas, the molecule is an attractive target for immunotherapy and several strategies have been deployed to treat cancer using Ep-CAM targeting, including MAb therapy. For improving effective targeting of this protein for diagnostics in various clinical samples, we generated and characterized an anti-Ep-CAM MAb (C4) using recombinant Ep-CAM protein, comprising the highly immunogenic domain. The specificity of C4-MAb was characterized in Ep-CAM positive cell lines (PC3 and MCF-7) by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The immunohistochemistry analysis in clinical tissue samples showed specific detection of epithelial antigens in breast, colon, stomach, and prostate carcinomas. Thus, this Ep-CAM MAb (C4-MAb) could be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications due to its specificity.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sithambaram et al. (2011) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: