NCAM-1/CD56

NCAM-1 (CD56) is a calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily, with five extracellular Ig-like domains and two fibronectin type III repeats, encoded by NCAM1. Homophilic NCAM-NCAM binding links adjacent neural cells, and alternative splicing plus posttranslational polysialylation by ST8SIA enzymes modulate its adhesive strength; highly polysialylated NCAM promotes plasticity and neurite outgrowth. In the immune system, CD56 is the defining marker of natural killer cells and of CD56+ NK-like T cell subsets, and aberrant CD56 expression characterizes neuroendocrine tumors and multiple myeloma plasma cells. In oncology, CD56 immunostaining identifies neuroendocrine differentiation, and the anti-CD56 antibody-drug conjugate lorvotuzumab mertansine has been evaluated in neuroendocrine malignancies.