Journal
CELLS
Volume 9, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/cells9081836
Keywords
circulating tumor cells; epithelial cell adhesion molecule; epithelial cancer; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Categories
Funding
- ELBA project - European Union [765492]
- National Institute of Cancer (INCa) [INCa_Inserm_DGOS_12553]
- ERA-NETTRANSCAN2 JTC 2016 PROLIPSY
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In the last few decades, the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) has received increased attention as the main membrane marker used in many enrichment technologies to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Although there has been a great deal of progress in the implementation of EpCAM-based CTC detection technologies in medical settings, several issues continue to limit their clinical utility. The biology of EpCAM and its role are not completely understood but evidence suggests that the expression of this epithelial cell-surface protein is crucial for metastasis-competent CTCs and may not be lost completely during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In this review, we summarize the most significant advantages and disadvantages of using EpCAM as a marker for CTC enrichment and its potential biological role in the metastatic cascade.
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