title: EpCAM-targeted therapy for human hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies and the identification of new effective therapies for HCC is urgently needed. We have previously identified EpCAM, one of the hepatic stem/progenitor markers, as a prognostic predictor of patients who received curative hepatectomy for HCC. In this preclinical study, the effects of VB4-845, an immunotoxin targeting EpCAM, were evaluated in HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro effects of VB4-845 on human HCC cells, the cytotoxic activity, sphere-forming ability, and expression of hepatic stem/progenitor markers were analyzed. In vivo effects of VB4-845 were evaluated using subcutaneous and orthotopic liver xenograft models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all HCC cell lines expressing EpCAM, VB4-845 showed potent cytotoxicity and was significantly effective in combination with 5-FU (p < 0.05). Although 5-FU did not affect the sphere-forming ability and increased the populations expressing other stem/progenitor markers CD133 and CD13 (p < 0.05), VB4-845 strongly suppressed the sphere-formation and decreased the population expressing CD133 and CD13 (p < 0.0005, <0.01, respectively). In subcutaneous xenograft models, the combination of VB4-845 plus 5-FU showed significant regression of tumors compared with the control (p = 0.016). Moreover, in orthotopic liver xenograft models, the combination therapy dramatically decreased the tumor volume compared with the control (p = 0.0011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preclinical investigation suggests that EpCAM-targeted therapy may offer a promising and novel approach for the treatment of HCC with a poorer prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kousuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murakata
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ban
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C544997:VB4-845; D005472:Fluorouracil