Catenin delta-2 (CTNND2) (CTNND2)

Catenin delta-2 (CTNND2), commonly referred to as δ-catenin, is a member of the p120-catenin subfamily of armadillo repeat proteins that plays a vital role in regulating cell-cell adhesion and cytoskeletal organization (UniProt P98170). Under normal physiological conditions, its expression is primarily restricted to the central nervous system, where it is essential for neuronal development, dendritic branching, and synaptic plasticity. However, δ-catenin is frequently overexpressed in several epithelial malignancies, including prostate, breast, and lung cancers, where it functions as a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) (Lu et al., 2005, Journal of Urology). Its overexpression is linked to increased tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, often mediated through the modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Rho GTPase activity (Zeng et al., 2020, Frontiers in Oncology). Because of its high tumor-to-normal tissue expression ratio outside the CNS, δ-catenin is being investigated as a target for immunotherapies, such as peptide-based vaccines and CAR-T cell therapies, designed to elicit a specific immune response against malignant cells (No et al., 2011, Journal of Immunotherapy).

Other names

Delta-cateninNeural cateninNPRAPGT24δ-catenin

Induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against tumor cells overexpressing the antigen or direct inhibition of protein function to reduce tumor invasiveness.