1. Academic Validation
  2. Role of Nectin‑4 protein in cancer (Review)

Role of Nectin‑4 protein in cancer (Review)

  • Int J Oncol. 2021 Nov;59(5):93. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5273.
Yongheng Liu # 1 Xiuxin Han # 1 Lili Li 1 Yanting Zhang 1 Xiaoyu Huang 1 Guanghao Li 1 Chuncai Xu 1 Mengfan Yin 1 Peng Zhou 1 Fanqi Shi 1 Xiaozhi Liu 2 Yan Zhang 1 Guowen Wang 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, P.R. China.
  • 2 Central Laboratory, The Fifth Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin 300450, P.R. China.
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

The Nectin cell adhesion molecule (Nectin) family members are CA2+‑independent immunoglobulin‑like cellular adhesion molecules (including Nectins 1‑4), involved in cell adhesion via homophilic/heterophilic interplay. In addition, the Nectin family plays a significant role in enhancing cellular viability and movement ability. In contrast to enrichment of Nectins 1‑3 in normal tissues, Nectin‑4 is particularly overexpressed in a number of tumor types, including breast, lung, urothelial, colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian Cancer. Moreover, the upregulation of Nectin‑4 is an independent biomarker for overall survival in numerous Cancer types. A large number of studies have revealed that high expression of Nectin‑4 is closely related to tumor occurrence and development in various Cancer types, but the manner in which Nectin‑4 protein contributes to the onset and development of these malignancies is yet unknown. The present review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and functions of Nectin‑4 protein in the biological processes and current advances with regard to its expression and regulation in various Cancer types.

Keywords

Nectin‑4; cancer; prognosis; prognostic factor; survival; tumor.

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