Overexpression of EpCAM in uterine serous papillary carcinoma: implications for EpCAM-specific immunotherapy with human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201)

Mol Cancer Ther. 2010 Jan;9(1):57-66. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-0675. Epub 2010 Jan 6.

Abstract

We evaluated the expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and the potential of MT201 (adecatumumab), a human monoclonal antibody against EpCAM, in uterine serous papillary carcinoma (USPC). EpCAM expression was evaluated by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry in a total of 56 USPC fresh-frozen biopsies and paraffin-embedded tissues. EpCAM surface expression was also evaluated by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry in six USPC cell lines. Sensitivity to MT201 antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity was tested against a panel of primary USPC cell lines expressing different levels of EpCAM in standard 5-h (51)Cr release assays. EpCAM transcript was significantly overexpressed in fresh-frozen USPC when compared with normal endometrial cells (NEC). Median (minimum-maximum) copy number was 943.8 (31.5-1568.3) in tumor samples versus 12.9 (1.0-37.0) in NEC (P < 0.001). By immunohistochemistry, EpCAM expression was found in 96% (26 out of 27) of USPC samples with significantly higher expression compared with NECs (P < 0.001). High surface expression of EpCAM was found in 83% (five out of six) of the USPC cell lines tested by flow cytometry. EpCAM-positive cell lines were found highly sensitive to MT201-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in vitro, whereas primary USPC cell lines were resistant to natural killer cell-dependent cytotoxicity. Human plasma IgG did not significantly inhibit MT201-mediated cytotoxicity against USPC. EpCAM is highly expressed in uterine serous carcinoma at mRNA and protein levels, and primary USPC are highly sensitivity to MT201-mediated cytotoxicity. MT201 might represent a novel therapeutic strategy in patients harboring advanced/recurrent or metastatic USPC refractory to standard treatment modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity / drug effects
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / immunology*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / drug therapy*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / genetics
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / pharmacology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-2
  • RNA, Messenger
  • adecatumumab