Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules in Oncology
Summary
Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules (CEACAMs) are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily characterised by variable extracellular domains and diverse cytoplasmic tails. They mediate homophilic and heterophilic cell–cell interactions, influence signal transduction pathways and play multifaceted roles in tumour biology. In oncology, CEACAM family members act as biomarkers of disease progression, regulators of epithelial–mesenchymal transition and modulators of immune surveillance. Altered expression or splicing of CEACAM isoforms on tumour cells can promote invasion, survival and metastatic spread, while on immune cells they may function as co-inhibitory or activating receptors that shape antitumour immunity. The interplay between CEACAMs and downstream effectors such as kinases, phosphatases and matrix-remodelling enzymes underpins their contribution to tumour growth, angiogenesis and resistance to therapy. Given their surface localisation and functional importance, CEACAMs have emerged as attractive targets for antibody-based and immunomodulatory strategies in cancer treatment.
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Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecules in Oncology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecules in oncology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM): A glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin superfamily involved in intercellular adhesion and signalling.
Isoform: A variant form of a protein arising from alternative splicing of a single gene, often differing in functional domains.
Immunoglobulin superfamily: A large group of proteins containing immunoglobulin‐like domains that mediate recognition, binding or adhesion in immune and non-immune contexts.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT): A cellular programme whereby epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal traits, enhancing motility and invasiveness.
Immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibitory motif (ITIM): A sequence in the cytoplasmic tail of some receptors that recruits phosphatases to attenuate activating signals.
References
- The role of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in cancer. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- CEACAM1 as a multi-purpose target for cancer immunotherapy. OncoImmunology (2017).
- Size Matters: The Functional Role of the CEACAM1 Isoform Signature and Its Impact for NK Cell-Mediated Killing in Melanoma. Cancers (2019).
- CEACAM6 Promotes Gastric Cancer Invasion and Metastasis by Inducing Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. PLOS ONE (2014).
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