ALCAM/CD166: a pleiotropic mediator of cell adhesion, stemness and cancer progression

FERRAGUT F; VACHETTA VS; TRONCOSO MF; RABINOVICH GA; ELOLA MT

CYTOKINE & GROWTH FACTOR REVIEWS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2021

1359-6101

Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM/CD166) is a glycoprotein involved in homotypic andheterotypic cell adhesion. ALCAM can be proteolytically cleaved at the cell surface by metalloproteases, whichgenerate shedding of its ectodomain. In various tumors, ALCAM is overexpressed and serves as a valuableprognostic marker of disease progression. Moreover, CD166 has been identified as a putative cancer stem cellmarker in particular cancers. Herein, we summarize biochemical aspects of ALCAM, including structure, proteolyticshedding, alternative splicing, and specific ligands, and integrate this information with biologicalfunctions of this glycoprotein including cell adhesion, migration and invasion. In addition, we discuss differentpatterns of ALCAM expression in distinct tumor types and its contribution to tumor progression. Finally, wehighlight the role of ALCAM as a cancer stem cell marker and introduce current clinical trials associated with thismolecule. Future studies are needed to define the value of shed ALCAM in biofluids or ALCAM isoform expressionas prognostic biomarkers in tumor progression.