ESA / BerP4

Alias/Synonym: Epithelial Antigen, Adenocarcinoma

CPT Code: 88342

Includes:

Specimen Type, Preferred:

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue

Specimen Type, Alternate:

Sample Quantity, Preferred:

1 block

2 slides

Sample Quantity, Minimum:

N/A

Transport Container:

Paraffin block

Unstained slides

Transport Temperature:

Room temperature

Collection Instructions:

Block and slide identifiers should be clearly written and match exactly with the specimen ID and specimen labeling as noted on the requisition.

Slides should be positively charged and cut at 3-4 microns for each stain/antibody ordered.

Specimen Stability:

N/A

Rejection Criteria:

No liquid specimens.

Uncharged slides

Clinical Significance:

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is an approximate 40 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein. In paraffin sections, the protein is detected with many antibodies like anti-Ber-EP4 and anti-MOC-31. Ep-CAM (Ber-EP4) is normally expressed at the basolateral membrane of cells in the majority of epithelial tissues. It is not expressed in adult squamous epithelia, hepatocytes, myoepithelial cells, mesothelial cells or fibroblasts. Ep-CAM is found in the large majority of adenocarcinomas of most sites (50-100%) in various studies; as well as neuroendocrine tumors, including small cell carcinoma. Renal clear cell carcinoma, renal oncocytoma and hepatocellular carcinoma stain in a minority of the cases, but papillary renal cell carcinoma, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma stain with anti-Ber-EP4 at a higher percentage. Basal cell carcinoma is anti-Ber-EP4 positive in almost all cases. Ep-CAM can be of great help in the differentiating malignant involvement in the peritoneal and pleural cavities.

Limitations:

Turnaround Time:

1 day(s)

Reference Ranges:

N/A

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