BerEp4

BerEp4 (also Ber-EP4) is a histologic stain mainly used to aid in the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).^[2] It is an antibody to EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule).^[1]

Comparison H&E stain (left) with BerEP4 immunohistochemistry staining (right) on a pathological section having BCC with squamous cell metaplasia. Only BCC cells are stained with BerEP4.^[1]

Comparison H&E stain (left) with BerEP4 immunohistochemistry staining (right) on superficial BCC pathological sections mimicking Bowen’s Disease.^[1] At bottom, columnar epithelium in normal sweat glands stain positive too.

Clinical use

BerEp4 has a high sensitivity and specificity in being positive only in BCC cells.^[1] BerEp4 is normally negative in squamous epithelium and mesothelium, but otherwise normally positive most epithelial cells of the body.^[3] It can also help in distinguishing pulmonary adenocarcinoma (positive BerEp4) from mesothelioma (generally negative BerEp4).^[3][4]

See also

• List of histologic stains that aid in diagnosis of cutaneous conditions