Cell adhesion molecules are a family of closely related cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell-cell interactions during growth and are thought to play an important role in embryogenesis and development. Neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) expression is observed in a variety of human tumors, including neuroblastomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, Wilm's tumors, Ewing's sarcomas and some primitive myeloid malignancies. The NCAM-L1 adhesion molecule (CD171) plays an important role in axon guidance and cell migration in the nervous system. The presence of NCAM-L1 might contribute to tumor progression by promoting cell adhesion and migration and is known to be expressed by neurons, neuroblastomas and other malignant tumors.
