Primary research

Expression of EpCAM in uveal melanoma

Danilo N Odashiro^1,2,3 , Alexandre N Odashiro^1,2,3,4 , Patrícia R Pereira^1,2,3 , Katyanne Godeiro^1,2 , Emilia Antecka¹ , Sebastian Di Cesare¹ and Miguel N Burnier Jr¹

¹  Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada

²  Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil

³  LAC-Pathology and Cytopathology Laboratory, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

⁴  Universidade para o Desenvolvimento do Estado e Região do Pantanal (UNIDERP) – Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

author email corresponding author email

Cancer Cell International 2006, 6:26doi:10.1186/1475-2867-6-26

Published:	24 November 2006

Abstract

Background

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults, and nearly 40% of UM will develop metastasis that will ultimately lead to death. The Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein expressed by carcinomas of head and neck, ovary, colon, breast, kidney and lung. Recently, antibodies against EpCAM such as Edrecolomab and Catumaxomab were developed, and clinical trials with these antibodies have been used in several types of neoplasia. We studied the expression of EpCAM in UM.

Methods

25 enucleated formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded UM specimens were immunostained for EpCAM. Histopathological analysis of the specimens with regards to prognostic factors such as cell type, largest (linear) tumor dimension, number of mitotic figures, scleral invasion and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were done.

Results

None of them was positive for this EpCAM.

Conclusion

In our report, UM did not express EpCAM. Therefore, it is not a helpful immunohistochemical marker to predict the behavior of UM. Further studies are needed to verify if EpCAM could also be related with prognosis and treatment of UM.