Page 9 - TD-4-1

Tumor Discovery

REVIEW ARTICLE
EpCAM-targeting cancer

immunotherapies: Evidence from clinical
studies and the way forward

Dennis Makafui Dogbey 1 , Ursula-Claire Andong-Koung-Edzidzi 1 ,
1
1
1
Gomolemo Atlegang Molope , Jesmika Singh , Tatenda Lovemore Bvudzijena ,
1,2
Krupa Naran 1 , and Stefan Barth *
1 Medical Biotechnology and Immunotherapy Research Unit, Institute of Infectious Diseases and
Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
2 Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, South African Research Chair in Cancer
Biotechnology, Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town,
South Africa

Abstract

Overexpressed cell-surface receptors play a crucial role as biomarkers in
immunodiagnostics and immunotherapy. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)
is a 40 kDa cell-membrane glycoprotein associated with cell differentiation, survival,
migration, and proliferation. The structure, biological functions, and role of EpCAM
*Corresponding author:
Stefan Barth in tumorigenesis have been extensively studied, including its involvement in
(stefan.barth@uct.ac.za) metastasis, tumor cellular signaling, and pro-proliferating pathways. It is differentially
Citation: Dogbey DM, overexpressed on the surface of several tumor types, with substantial evidence
Andong-Koung-Edzidzi U, suggesting a positive correlation with poor disease prognosis and overall survival.
Molope GA, et al. EpCAM- Consequently, it has emerged as a significant target for immunotherapy development,
targeting cancer immunotherapies:
Evidence from clinical studies and with some of them already entering clinical evaluation and one having been
the way forward. Tumor Discov. approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to date. Pre-clinical and clinical
2025;4(1):1-13. studies evaluating anti-EpCAM immunotherapies have reported diverse outcomes
doi: 10.36922/td.4926
necessitating critical assessment in considering future therapy development.
Received: September 24, 2024 EpCAM-targeting immunotherapies including monoclonal antibodies, adoptive
Revised: November 5, 2024 cell transfer therapy, immunocytokines, recombinant immunotoxin, and bispecific
T-cell engagers have been studied as monotherapy or in combination with other
Accepted: November 11, 2024
treatments resulting in improved outcomes. Depending on disease status, EpCAM-
Published online: December 13, targeting therapies are studied in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings by integrating
2024 the clinical features of patients and treatment intent. However, the wide range of
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). adverse events reported in various unsuccessful clinical studies has implications for
This is an Open-Access article future clinical trial designs, patient stratification, and endpoint criteria measures. This
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution review examines the efficacy and toxicity profiles of anti-EpCAM immunotherapeutic
License, permitting distribution, approaches that have undergone clinical investigations for the treatment of antigen-
and reproduction in any medium, positive malignancies and provides perspectives to guide future research and
provided the original work is
properly cited. development strategies toward precision medicine.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule; Immunotherapy; Clinical research; Solid
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional tumors; Clinical trial
affiliations.

Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/td.4926