EpCAM overexpression is associated with high-grade urothelial carcinoma in the renal pelvis.
BACKGROUND
EpCAM serves as an attractive target for immunotherapy due to its expression on the surface of most epithelial cancer cells. Urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis (RP-UC) comprises 2.4-4.6% of tumors of the lower urinary tract. To assess the expression of EpCAM in RP-UC a retrospective study was performed.


METHODS
Tumor tissue from 42 patients with RP-UC was selected from the archives of the Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. EpCAM expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using the mouse monoclonal antibody ESA.


RESULTS
EpCAM overexpression was significantly associated with high grade and invasive behaviour (p = 0.014 and p = 0.029) and the presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.031), but not with the extent of nodal involvement (p = 0.12).


CONCLUSIONS
In RP-UC, EpCAM overexpression is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype. The association of EpCAM overexpression with the presence of lymph node metastasis may be of prognostic and therapeutic relevance.
Brunner
Andrea
A
Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria. andrea.brunner@i-med.ac.at
Schaefer
Georg
G
Veits
Lothar
L
Brunner
Barbara
B
Prelog
Martina
M
Ensinger
Christian
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule