Cadherin-1 (CDH1) (CDH1)

Cadherin-1, widely known as E-cadherin, is a pivotal calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule primarily expressed in epithelial tissues (UniProt P12830). It serves as a core component of adherens junctions, facilitating the structural cohesion of tissues by linking the extracellular environment to the intracellular actin cytoskeleton via catenin proteins (StatPearls, 2023). Beyond its structural role, E-cadherin is a critical regulator of signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. In the context of oncology, E-cadherin is often regarded as a tumor suppressor, as its functional loss is a hallmark of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which enables cancer cells to detach from the primary tumor and metastasize (PubMed: 25236395). Mutations in the CDH1 gene are strongly associated with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and invasive lobular breast cancer (NCBI Gene: 999). Therapeutic interventions targeting E-cadherin, such as the small molecule ADH-1, aim to exploit its role in tumor stability and vascular integrity, though the ubiquity of E-cadherin in normal tissues necessitates careful management of potential toxicities (PubMed: 15254671).

Other names

E-cadherinEpithelial cadherinCD324UvomorulinCalcium-dependent adhesion protein, epithelialCAM 120/80

ADH-1 is a cyclic pentapeptide that acts as a competitive antagonist of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion by mimicking the His-Ala-Val (HAV) binding motif, thereby disrupting tumor-associated vasculature and inducing apoptosis in E-cadherin-expressing malignant cells (PubMed: 15254671).