Cadherin 19 (CDH19)

Cadherin 19 (CDH19) is a type II classical cadherin belonging to the cadherin superfamily of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion glycoproteins. It is encoded by the CDH19 gene located on chromosome 18, and it contains five extracellular cadherin repeats. CDH19 shows restricted expression in the developing and adult nervous system, particularly in myelin-forming cells such as Schwann cells and oligodendrocyte precursors, as well as in the dorsal root ganglia and olfactory bulb. CDH19 is upregulated in minimally infiltrative glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) and proposed as a marker and potential therapeutic target for this glioblastoma subtype, where its expression may be associated with less invasive tumor phenotypes and improved prognosis. Loss or dysregulation of cadherins is often linked to tumor formation and progression; CDH19 specifically has also been implicated in cervical carcinoma via AKT/NF-kappaB signaling pathways. No clinically approved drugs are available that interact directly with CDH19, but its specific expression pattern and functional biology make it a candidate for future therapeutic and diagnostic strategies, particularly in glioblastoma and neuro-oncology.

Other names

CAD19CDH19Cadherin-19

As no drugs directly target cadherin 19, mechanism of action by approved drugs is not established; experimental targeting could impact cell adhesion, invasion, or angiogenesis