EpCAM

EpCAM is also known as CO171A, EGP, EGP40,GA7332, KSA, M4S, MIC18, MK1, TROP1, hEGP2, and is a pan-epithelial differentiation antigen that is expressed on almost all carcinomas as 17-1A(mAb) antigen. Its constitutional function is being elucidated. It is intricately linked with the Cadherin-Catenin pathway and hence the fundamental WNT pathway responsible for intracellular signaling and polarity. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is known to express in most epithelial malignancies and was reported as a tumor marker or a candidate of molecular targeting therapy.
Ep-CAM cross signaling with N-cadherin involves Pi3K, resulting in the abrogation of the cadherin adhesion complexes in epithelial cells was reported. And Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) recently received increased attention as a prognostic factor in breast cancer.