The biology of the 17-1A antigen (Ep-CAM).

Abstract

The glycoprotein recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 17-1A is present on most carcinomas, which makes it an attractive target for immunotherapy. Indeed, adjuvant treatment with mAb 17-1A did successfully reduce the 5 years mortality among colorectal cancer patients with minimal residual disease. Currently the antibody is approved for clinical use in Germany, and is on its way to approval in a number of other countries. New immunotherapeutic strategies targeting the 17-1A antigen are in development or even in early-phase clinical trials. Therefore, a better understanding of the biology of the 17-1A antigen may result in improved strategies for the treatment and diagnosis of human carcinomas. In this review the properties of the 17-1A antigen are discussed concerning tumor biology and the function of the molecule. This 40-kDa glycoprotein functions as an Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule, therefore the name Ep-CAM was suggested. Ep-CAM mediates Ca2+-independent homotypic cell-cell adhesions. Formation of Ep-CAM-mediated adhesions has a negative regulatory effect on adhesions mediated by classic cadherins, which may have strong effects on the differentiation and growth of epithelial cells. Indeed, in vivo expression of Ep-CAM is related to increased epithelial proliferation and negatively correlates with cell differentiation. A regulatory function of Ep-CAM in the morphogenesis of epithelial tissue has been demonstrated for a number of tissues, in particular pancreas and mammary gland. The function of Ep-CAM should be taken into consideration when developing new therapeutic approaches targeting this molecule.

• Authors: M Balzar, M J Winter, C J de Boer, S V Litvinov
• Journal: Journal of molecular medicine (Berlin, Germany) (J Mol Med (Berl)) Vol. 77 Issue 10 Pg. 699-712 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 0946-2716 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 10606205 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Cadherins
• Cell Adhesion Molecules
• Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
• Fetal Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (therapeutic use)
• Antigens, Neoplasm (analysis, genetics, immunology, physiology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Breast (chemistry, embryology)
• Cadherins (physiology)
• Carcinoma (chemistry, diagnosis, immunology, therapy)
• Cell Adhesion (physiology)
• Cell Adhesion Molecules (analysis, genetics, immunology, physiology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 (genetics)
• Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
• Epithelial Cells (cytology, metabolism)
• Evolution, Molecular
• Female
• Fetal Proteins (physiology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genes
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunotherapy
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• Morphogenesis
• Multigene Family
• Organ Specificity
• Pancreas (chemistry, embryology)
• Protein Conformation
• Protein Structure, Tertiary