title: Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma compared to normal salivary gland tissues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor which displays biological, histological and clinical diversity thus representing a challenge for its diagnosis and management. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a transmembrane glycoprotein identified as a tumor specific antigen due to its frequent overexpression in the majority of epithelial carcinomas and its correlation with prognosis. It is considered to be a promising biomarker used as a therapeutic target already in ongoing clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern, cellular characterization and level of EpCAM expression in MEC and demonstrate its correlation with histologic grading which may benefit future clinical trials using EpCAM targeted therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  48 specimens (12 normal salivary gland tissue and 36 MEC) were collected and EpCAM membranous expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Total immunoscore (TIS) was evaluated, the term 'EpCAM overexpression' was given for tissues showing a total immunoscore >4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A highly significant difference was observed between TIS percent values in control and different grades of MEC (p<0.001). High grade MEC (HG-MEC) was the highest EpCAM expressor. In addition, EpCAM expression pattern differed among the different grades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EpCAM expression was detected in MEC, and its overexpression correlated with increasing the histological grade. The diffuse membranous expression in HG-MEC could be of diagnostic value in relation to the patchy expression observed in both low grade and intermediate grade MEC.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt. Electronic address: noura.ali@dentistry.cu.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Noura M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hend M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dahmoush
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
keywords: EpCAM; Head and neck neoplasms; Immunohistochemistry; Molecular targeted therapy; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Salivary gland neoplasms