Background: Ovarian carcinoma is the 3^rd highest frequent cancer of female reproductive system and the 5^th most prevalent leading reason of death from cancer in females globally. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a type I transmembrane protein that is overexpressed in several neoplasms. Recently, it has been regarded as an emerging indicator for cancer stem cells (CSCs) across several types of neoplasms. Recent studies indicate that EpCAM may be a potential key player in initiation, growth, and metastatic spread of tumors.
Objectives: This research was conducted to assess the expression levels of EpCAM in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) and analyze its association with established clinicopathological factors.
Materials and methods: Fifty tissue samples of EOC preserved in formalin and embedded in paraffin were examined for EpCAM expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC). EpCAM expression was statistically analyzed for its association with various clinicopathological variables.
Results: EpCAM expression in EOC was frequently upregulated in large, poorly differentiated, and advanced tumors and it showed a strong relationship with tumor laterality, the presence of peritoneal deposits and lymphovascular invasion (LVI).
Conclusion: EpCAM molecule has an important role in carcinogenesis; it could promote the progression, invasion, and metastasis of EOC. It could act as a potential predictive biological marker and therapeutic target.