EpCAM overexpression is associated with high-grade urothelial carcinoma in the renal pelvis.

BACKGROUND: EpCAM serves as an attractive target for immunotherapy due to its expression on the surface of most epithelial cancer cells. Urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis (RP-UC) comprises 2.4-4.6% of tumors of the lower urinary tract. To assess the expression of EpCAM in RP-UC a retrospective study was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor tissue from 42 patients with RP-UC was selected from the archives of the Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. EpCAM expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using the mouse monoclonal antibody ESA. RESULTS: EpCAM overexpression was significantly associated with high grade and invasive behaviour (p = 0.014 and p = 0.029) and the presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.031), but not with the extent of nodal involvement (p = 0.12). CONCLUSION: In RP-UC, EpCAM overexpression is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype. The association of EpCAM overexpression with the presence of lymph node metastasis may be of prognostic and therapeutic relevance.