Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule: An Anchor to Isolate Clinically Relevant Circulating Tumor Cells

Cells

Zahra Eslami-S¹  LuisEnrique Cortés-Hernández¹  Catherine Alix-Panabières¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Rare Human Circulating Cells (LCCRH), University Medical Centre of Montpellier, 34295 Montpellier, France;

关键词: circulating tumor cells;    epithelial cell adhesion molecule;    epithelial cancer;    epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition;   

DOI  :  10.3390/cells9081836

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown