Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal in cancer metastasis and serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Traditional CTC capture methods predominantly utilize the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) as a marker for isolation. However, the heterogenei...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dora Szerenyi, Gabor Jarvas, Andras Guttman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/976
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850050746724122624
author Dora Szerenyi
Gabor Jarvas
Andras Guttman
author_facet Dora Szerenyi
Gabor Jarvas
Andras Guttman
author_sort Dora Szerenyi
collection DOAJ
description Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal in cancer metastasis and serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Traditional CTC capture methods predominantly utilize the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) as a marker for isolation. However, the heterogeneity of these circulating cells and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process (wherein epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics) limit the efficacy of EpCAM-based capture techniques. In this paper, we critically review the role of the EpCAM in CTC capture, explore the impact of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition on EpCAM expression, and discuss alternative biomarkers and strategies to enhance CTC isolation. By evaluating the limitations of EpCAM-mediated capture and the challenges posed by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, we aim to provide insights into the development of more comprehensive liquid biopsy approaches for cancer management.
format Article
id doaj-art-118c449d45ea4000bce3f22db6fe64c0
institution DOAJ
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-118c449d45ea4000bce3f22db6fe64c02025-08-20T02:53:21ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130597610.3390/molecules30050976Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell IsolationDora Szerenyi0Gabor Jarvas1Andras Guttman2Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprem, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprem, HungaryResearch Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia, 8200 Veszprem, HungaryCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) are pivotal in cancer metastasis and serve as valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring. Traditional CTC capture methods predominantly utilize the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) as a marker for isolation. However, the heterogeneity of these circulating cells and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process (wherein epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics) limit the efficacy of EpCAM-based capture techniques. In this paper, we critically review the role of the EpCAM in CTC capture, explore the impact of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition on EpCAM expression, and discuss alternative biomarkers and strategies to enhance CTC isolation. By evaluating the limitations of EpCAM-mediated capture and the challenges posed by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, we aim to provide insights into the development of more comprehensive liquid biopsy approaches for cancer management.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/976liquid biopsyCTCsurface markersEMTimmuno-affinitylabel-free isolation
spellingShingle Dora Szerenyi
Gabor Jarvas
Andras Guttman
Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
Molecules
liquid biopsy
CTC
surface markers
EMT
immuno-affinity
label-free isolation
title Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
title_full Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
title_fullStr Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
title_full_unstemmed Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
title_short Multifaceted Approaches in Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-Mediated Circulating Tumor Cell Isolation
title_sort multifaceted approaches in epithelial cell adhesion molecule mediated circulating tumor cell isolation
topic liquid biopsy
CTC
surface markers
EMT
immuno-affinity
label-free isolation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/976
work_keys_str_mv AT doraszerenyi multifacetedapproachesinepithelialcelladhesionmoleculemediatedcirculatingtumorcellisolation
AT gaborjarvas multifacetedapproachesinepithelialcelladhesionmoleculemediatedcirculatingtumorcellisolation
AT andrasguttman multifacetedapproachesinepithelialcelladhesionmoleculemediatedcirculatingtumorcellisolation