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Description

MUC18 antigen (CD146), a member of the immuoglobulin superfamily, is an intrinsic membrane glycoprotein of 110-120 kDa found on the surface of endothelial cells, bone marrow fibroblasts and various melanomas. MUC18 has been used as a marker of tumor progression in human melanoma because expression in those tumors correlates strongly with poor prognosis and the development of metastic disease. In addition, a number of human T, B and myeloid leukemic cell lines seem to express MUC18. The close structural relationship with N-CAM and related molecules suggests that MUC18 may be also a developmentally regulated cell adhesion molecule (Melanoma adhesion molecule or MCAM).