EpCAM duality becomes this molecule in a new Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale

Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology
Alejandro Herreros-PomaresCarlos Camps

Abstract

EpCAM, known as an epithelial cell adhesion molecule, plays an essential role in cell adhesion, migration, metastasis and cell signalling. Rather than acting as an apoptosis antagonist, it induces cellular proliferation that impacts the cell cycle, and as a signalling transducer it uses and enhances the Wnt pathway, which is significantly relevant in cell renewal and cancer. EpCAM has become a marker of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in lung cancer due to its specificity, and its high and stable expression level. Recent findings have allowed us to relearn and discover EpCAM again as a CSCs marker by demonstrating its role in human epithelial cancer progression. In line with this, the focus of attention on EpCAM has become an appealing therapeutic target, although the literature shows a clear controversy in information about its clinical significance. Despite this contradictory fact, solid evidence has demonstrated its dual role as a molecule with oncogenic and tumour suppressor properties, in which the microenvironment is influential. Therefore, its dual role appears to be both tissue- and tumour- dependent. In this review, we summarised the novel and updated insights in the EpCAM field by simplifying the understanding of the ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 11, 2020·Frontiers in Oncology·Wei MuMargot Zöller
Apr 29, 2019·Cancer Metastasis Reviews·Zhe Wang, Margot Zöller
Jun 14, 2019·Frontiers in Oncology·Sandra CamargoEduardo Mitrani
Aug 20, 2019·Oncology Letters·Fabiana Pirani CarneiroAndrea Barretto Motoyama
Nov 15, 2020·Cancers·Sára LenártPetr Beneš
Apr 15, 2021·Nature Communications·Cécile GastonDelphine Delacour
Jun 23, 2021·International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery·J CurtinA K-Y Lam

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis

Apoptosis in Cancer

Apoptosis is an important mechanism in cancer. By evading apoptosis, tumors can continue to grow without regulation and metastasize systemically. Many therapies are evaluating the use of pro-apoptotic activation to eliminate cancer growth. Here is the latest research on apoptosis in cancer.

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer vaccines are vaccines that either treat existing cancer or prevent development of a cancer.

Cell Migration

Cell migration is involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes such as embryonic development, cancer metastasis, blood vessel formation and remoulding, tissue regeneration, immune surveillance and inflammation. Here is the latest research.

Adhesion Molecules in Health and Disease

Cell adhesion molecules are a subset of cell adhesion proteins located on the cell surface involved in binding with other cells or with the extracellular matrix in the process called cell adhesion. In essence, cell adhesion molecules help cells stick to each other and to their surroundings. Cell adhesion is a crucial component in maintaining tissue structure and function. Discover the latest research on adhesion molecule and their role in health and disease here.

Biophysics of Adhesion

Alterations in cell adhesion can disrupt important cellular processes and lead to a variety of diseases, including cancer and arthritis. It is also essential for infectious organisms, such as bacteria or viruses, to cause diseases. Understanding the biophysics of cell adhesion can help understand these diseases. Discover the latest research on the biophysics of adhesion here.

Cell Migration in Cancer and Metastasis

Migration of cancer cells into surrounding tissue and the vasculature is an initial step in tumor metastasis. Discover the latest research on cell migration in cancer and metastasis here.

Related Papers

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Young-In Kim
BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Swati Jha
The Journal of the Florida Medical Association
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
E G Feldmann
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved