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] 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).

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.