Adecatumumab: an anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibody, from the bench to the bedside

Areas covered in this review: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a membrane protein with proto-oncogenic properties that is expressed in a number of endothelium-derived cancers and is a promising anticancer drug target. Adecatumumab is a monoclonal, fully human IgG1 antibody that targets EpCAM, development of which is at present reaching Phase III trials. What the reader will gain: From a review of literature, we here update the rationale for using EpCAM as an anticancer target for monoclonal antibodies, with a special focus on adecatumumab. The fully human nature of adecatumumab is also discussed to put the drug in perspective with other related anti-EpCAM monoclonal antibodies, such as edrecolomab and catumaxomab. Adecatumumab studies are recapitulated, in order to provide the reader with a comprehensive view of the development of this promising anticancer agent. Take home message: Adecatumumab is a promising fully human monoclonal antibody targeting EpCAM which is expressed in almost all adenocarcinomas and its activity is not dependent of K-Ras status.