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Drug Target Encyclopedia Series (8) — EpCAM
Release Time：
2025-12-05 10:43
EpCAM is a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell-cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. While typically expressed on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells, it is overexpressed in many epithelial-derived cancers, making it a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target.
EpCAM dysregulation is associated with various malignancies, including:
• Colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Ovarian and prostate cancers
Targeting EpCAM in oncology:
- Monoclonal antibodies – such as catumaxomab, have been developed for direct tumor cell killing via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
- CAR-T cell therapies – EpCAM-targeted CAR-Ts are under clinical investigation, especially in solid tumors.
- Bispecific antibodies and ADCs – aimed at enhancing specificity and reducing off-tumor toxicity.
Challenges include heterogeneous expression, tumor escape mechanisms, and potential on-target off-tumor toxicity due to EpCAM’s expression on normal epithelial cells.
🔬 Ongoing research is focusing on enhancing selectivity, improving delivery systems, and combination strategies with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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