Anti-EpCAM (CD326) (Hu) from Mouse (HEA125) – unconj.

Recognizes a 40-43kDa transmembrane epithelial glycoprotein, identified as epithelial specific antigen (ESA), or epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM). In immunoprecipitation experiments, the Ber-EP4 antibody blocks the reaction of the HEA125 antibody with MCF-7 cell lysate and vice versa, showing that the two antibodies react with the same antigen. The two antibodies also produce identical staining results in cells and tissues. Of the 37 cell lines tested, the antibody homogeneously labels all (10/10) carcinoma cell lines, whereas all non-epithelial cell lines (26/27) are negative except for the erythromyeloid cell line K562. Ep-CAM is expressed on baso-lateral cell surface in most simple epithelia and a vast majority of carcinomas. This antibody has been used to distinguish adenocarcinoma from pleural mesothelioma and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also useful in distinguishing serous carcinomas of the ovary from mesothelioma. It has been reported that this epithelial antigen plays an important role as a tumor-cell marker in lymph nodes from patients with esophageal carcinoma otherwise classified as node-negative. Epithelial antigen has also been suggested as a discriminator between basal cell and baso-squamous carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.