Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40087210›Full record

ReviewDiscover oncology2025

Biological roles and clinical applications of EpCAM in HCC.

Peng Liu, Qun Zhang, Fengchao Liu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Discover oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Understanding how hypoxia contributes to liver cancer stem cells maintenance.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Peng LiuOrgan Transplantation Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Qun ZhangLiver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
Fengchao LiuLiver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. lfchao2012@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82103662
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is an important biomarker in tumors. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), EpCAM + cells exhibit high invasiveness, tumorigenic ability, therapeutic resistance, and self-renewal ability, often identified as liver cancer stem cells (CSCs). Detecting EpCAM + cells in tumor lesions and circulation is valuable for predicting patient prognosis and monitoring therapeutic outcomes, emphasizing its clinical significance. Given its broad expression in HCC, especially in CSCs and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), EpCAM-targeting agents have garnered substantial research interest. However, the role of EpCAM in HCC progression and its regulatory mechanisms remains poorly understood. Furthermore, clinical applications of EpCAM, such as liquid biopsy and targeted therapies, are still controversial. This review summarizes the biological properties of EpCAM + HCC cells, explores the regulatory mechanisms governing EpCAM expression, and discusses its clinical significance of using EpCAM as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target.

Indexed as

BiomarkerCancer stem cellsCirculating tumour cellsEpCAMHCC

Identifiers

PMID40087210
PMCPMC11909382

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.