EpCAM is up-regulated by EGF via ERK1/2 signaling and suppresses human epithelial ovarian cancer cell migration

Although epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is overexpressed in human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), some contradictory results have been reported regarding the correlation between EpCAM overexpression and patient survival. In addition to this controversy, the function and regulation of EpCAM in EOC remain largely unknown. Here, we show that epidermal growth factor (EGF) up-regulates EpCAM expression by activating ERK1/2 signaling in a human EOC cell line, SKOV3. Additionally, EpCAM overexpression suppresses not only basal but also EGF-stimulated SKOV3 cell migration, whereas EpCAM knockdown increases both basal and EGF-stimulated cell migration in another human EOC cell line, OVCAR4. This study demonstrates the regulation of EpCAM and its role in mediating the effects of EGF on human EOC cell migration.