Table 4

EpCAM expression in upper digestive, respiratory tract and (neuro)endocrine cancers

Tumour type (no. of samples)No EpCAM overexpression*EpCAM overexpression*
No expression (TIS 0)Weak expression (TIS 1–4)Moderate expression (TIS 6, 8)Intense expression (TIS 9, 12)
n%n%n%n%
Oral cavity cancer, SCC (126)514048381191613
Non-small-cell lung cancer (146)117281936257149
Small cell lung cancer and other PDNET (60)12203518302745
WDNET (53)2448244584
Differentiated thyroid cancer (88)2391025285259
  • EpCAM expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

  • * EpCAM overexpression defined by Gastl et al3.

  • EpCAM, epithelial cell adhesion molecule; PDNET, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumour; SCC, squamous cell cancer; TIS, total immunostaining score; WDNET, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour.