Adecatumumab: an anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibody, from the bench to the bedside.
BACKGROUND
In developing new anticancer drugs, the identification of relevant targets is a key issue of growing importance. Ideally, an anticancer drug target should be specific to cancer cells, in order to both increase efficacy and decrease toxicity of the compound.


METHODS
Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a membrane protein with proto-oncogenic properties that is expressed in a number of endothelium-derived cancers and is a promising anticancer drug target. Adecatumumab is a monoclonal, fully human IgG1 antibody that targets EpCAM, development of which is at present reaching Phase III trials.


RESULTS
From a review of literature, we here update the rationale for using EpCAM as an anticancer target for monoclonal antibodies, with a special focus on adecatumumab. The fully human nature of adecatumumab is also discussed to put the drug in perspective with other related anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibodies, such as edrecolomab and catumaxomab. Adecatumumab studies are recapitulated, in order to provide the reader with a comprehensive view of the development of this promising anticancer agent.


CONCLUSIONS
Adecatumumab is a promising fully human monoclonal antibody targeting EpCAM which is expressed in almost all adenocarcinomas and its activity is not dependent of K-Ras status.
Kurtz
Jean-Emmanuel
JE
Département d'Hématologie et d'Oncologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France.
Dufour
Patrick
P
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; C460839:adecatumumab; C400149:Edrecolomab