Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 4 (CEACAM4)

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 4 (CEACAM4) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily and the CEACAM family, functioning as an orphan cell surface receptor that is predominantly expressed on human granulocytes and certain tumor cells[1][2][3][4][6]. CEACAM4 is involved in the regulation of phagocytosis by providing an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) that can be phosphorylated by Src family kinases, leading to recruitment of PI3K and Nck to drive phagocytic uptake[1][2]. Its restricted expression profile makes CEACAM4 a useful differential marker in cancer (notably medullary thyroid carcinoma) and as a diagnostic biomarker in blood-based gene signatures for sepsis and systemic inflammation[1][2][5]. The endogenous ligand remains unknown, and direct therapeutic modulation is not established, though its roles in immunity and cancer suggest potential relevance for drug development and diagnostics.

Other names

CEA cell adhesion molecule 4Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 4CEACAM4CGM7Carcinoembryonic antigen CGM7Non-specific cross-reacting antigen W236Nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA)cell adhesion molecule CEACAM4carcinoembryonic antigen gene family member 7

Drugs targeting CEACAM4 would likely modulate immune cell activity or tumor cell adhesion via ITAM-dependent signaling/phagocytosis (inference; no specific drugs reported)