{"type":"root","children":[{"type":"paragraph","children":[{"type":"text","value":"Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) or Epithelial Specific Antigen is a 40 kDa cell surface antigen that is broadly distributed in epithelial cells and displays a highly conserved expression in carcinomas. These glycoproteins are located on the cell membrane surface and in the cytoplasm of virtually all epithelial cells, with the exception of most squamous epithelia, hepatocytes, renal proximal tubular cells, gastric parietal cells and myoepithelial cells. According to literature, EpCAM expression has been reported to be a possible marker of early malignancy, with expression being increased in tumor cells, and de novo expression being seen in dysplastic squamous epithelium."}]}]}