The present invention is based on our work with E-cadherin, including soluble portions of this integral membrane glycoprotein. The compositions of the present invention include therapeutically effective amounts of a first agent that targets epitopes within one or more of the EC2-EC5 subdomains of the ectodomain of E-cadherin (including these domains in the shed sEcad fragment) and a second agent that inhibits one or more of: endothelial tube formation angiogenesis the human epidermal growth factor receptor family (i.e. HER1-4) an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) any other receptor tyrosine kinase receptor family member the P13K-MAPK pathway and the P13K/Akt/mTOR pathway. The compositions can be used in the treatment of epithelial cancers and can be used to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. The invention also features methods in which cancer is staged.
