Basigin (CD147) (CD147)

Basigin (CD147), also known as Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN), is a transmembrane glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1, 9]. It serves as a critical mediator of tumor-stroma interactions by inducing the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) from adjacent fibroblasts, which promotes extracellular matrix degradation and facilitates tumor invasion and metastasis [2, 4, 5]. Additionally, CD147 acts as an essential chaperone for monocarboxylate transporters (MCT1 and MCT4), supporting the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells by facilitating lactate efflux and maintaining high glycolytic rates [7, 11, 13]. The molecule also contributes to tumor angiogenesis by upregulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is implicated in multidrug resistance phenotypes in HCC [1, 16, 21]. CD147 is a validated therapeutic target, most notably addressed by Licartin (Iodine-131 metuximab), a radio-labeled monoclonal antibody approved in China for the treatment of primary HCC [10, 12, 17, 18]. Clinical applications of CD147-targeted therapies must account for its expression on normal tissues, including leukocytes and erythrocytes, which can lead to off-target effects and hematological toxicities [11, 14, 19].

Other names

EMMPRINExtracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducerHAb18GOK blood group antigenTCSFM6

Radioimmunotherapy; Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase induction; Inhibition of angiogenesis; Inhibition of cell invasion; Inhibition of monocarboxylate transporter activity