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Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Patient Derived Cell Culture and Isolation of CD133+ Putative Cancer Stem Cells from Melanoma
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CD146, from a melanoma cell adhesion molecule to a signaling receptor

Zhaoqing Wang1, Qingji Xu2,3, Nengwei Zhang4

  • 1Key Laboratory of Protein and Peptide Pharmaceuticals, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China. clairezqwang@hotmail.com.

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
|August 13, 2020
PubMed

Insights

CD146, initially known as melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), functions as a receptor for various ligands. Its overexpression in cancers highlights its role in metastasis, suggesting CD146-targeted immunotherapy as a promising cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer research
  • Immunology

Background:

  • CD146, also known as melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), is highly expressed in tumors and endothelial cells.
  • While initially identified as an adhesion molecule, recent evidence suggests CD146 functions as a receptor for diverse ligands, including growth factors and extracellular matrix components.
  • CD146's involvement in cellular processes and its overexpression in malignancies, particularly in cancer metastasis, are increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review newly identified ligands of CD146.
  • To discuss the implications of these ligands in cancer progression and metastasis.
  • To explore the potential of CD146-targeted immunotherapy for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on CD146 ligands.
  • Analysis of CD146's role in physiological and pathological cellular processes.
  • Evaluation of CD146's involvement in cancer development and metastasis.

Main Results:

  • CD146 interacts bidirectionally with various ligands, influencing cellular functions.
  • Overexpression of CD146 is linked to cancer progression and metastasis, especially vascular and lymphatic spread.
  • Identifying CD146 ligands provides insights into its multifaceted roles in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • CD146 is more than an adhesion molecule; it's a crucial receptor involved in cancer progression.
  • Targeting CD146 through immunotherapy presents a potential strategy to combat cancer metastasis.
  • Further understanding of CD146-ligand interactions can lead to novel therapeutic approaches for cancer.

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