Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (CD146) (CD146)

Melanoma cell adhesion molecule (CD146), also known as MCAM or MUC18, is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily that plays a pivotal role in cell-cell adhesion and signal transduction (UniProt P43121). It is expressed in two primary membrane-bound isoforms, long (lg-CD146) and short (sh-CD146), which differ in their cytoplasmic tails and spatial localization on the cell surface (Stalin et al., 2017). While CD146 is present on normal endothelial cells and smooth muscle, a "tumor-specific" form (TsCD146) is significantly upregulated in various malignancies, including melanoma, breast, and pancreatic cancers (Stalin et al., 2020). This tumor-associated expression promotes angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastatic dissemination, making it a high-value therapeutic target (Yan et al., 2003). Monoclonal antibodies such as AA98 and ABX-MA1, as well as emerging CAR-T therapies, are designed to specifically target this molecule to inhibit tumor growth and vascularization (Uzuner et al., 2024). Therapeutic strategies often focus on the unique epitopes or conformations of CD146 found in the tumor microenvironment to minimize off-target effects on healthy vasculature (Stalin et al., 2017).

Other names

MCAMMUC18Mel-CAMMET-CAMS-endo 1Gicerin

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and metastasis by blocking CD146-mediated signaling and cell adhesion.