Epithelial Cellular Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM), also known as KS1/4, gp40, GA733-2, 17-1A, CD326 and TROP‑1, is a 40 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein composed of a 243 amino acid (aa) extracellular domain with two epidermal-growth-factor-like (EGF‑like) repeats, a 23 aa transmembrane domain, and a 26 aa cytoplasmic domain. Human and mouse EpCAM share 82% aa sequence identity. In mouse, EpCAM also shares 51% aa sequence homology with Trop‑2. EpCAM is detected in basolateral cell membranes of all simple epithelia and expression has been found to increase in epithelia tissues during fetal development (1, 2). EpCAM has been shown to function as a homophilic Ca2 ⁺ independent adhesion molecule, but it does not structurally resemble any of the four major families of cell adhesion molecules (3). Homophilic adhesion via EpCAM requires the interaction of both EGF‑like repeats, with the first EGF‑like repeat mediating reciprocal interaction between EpCAM molecules on opposing cells, while the second repeat is involved in lateral interaction of EpCAM (4). EpCAM has been identified as a surface marker for pluripotent embryonic stem cells and is strongly associated with the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of ESCs (5). EpCAM is highly expressed on the surface of epithelial cancer cells including colon, stomach, lung, pancreas, prostate and breast (6, 7).