title: [Expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule in prostate cancer and its clinical significance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in prostate cancer (PCa) and its clinical significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected tissue samples from 63 cases of PCa, 46 cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and 58 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) adjacent to PCa and determined the expression of EpCAM in the epithelial and stromal cells by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive expression rates of EpCAM in the epithelial cells were significantly higher in PCa and PIN than in PCa-adjacent BPH (98. 4 and 97. 8 vs 51.7%, P <0. 01), and so was that in the stromal cells of PCa than in those of PCa-adjacent PIN (89.5 vs 50.0%, P <0.01). The expression of EpCAM.was remarkably higher in the stromal cells of bone metastasis than in those of non-bone metastasis tissue (100. 0 vs 40. 0%, P <0. 01) but showed no statistically significant differences between the highly and poorly differentiated PCa tissues (88.5 vs 91.9%, P >0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression level of EpCAM in the stromal cells of PCa is related to the occurrence, progression, and bone metastasis of the tumor, and therefore may be used as a marker in the early diagnosis of PCa as well as a predictor of bone metastasis of the tumor.
authors.forename: Zhen-ling
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ren-shun
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule