RESUMEN
The Nectin cell adhesion molecule (Nectin) family members are Ca2+independent immunoglobulinlike cellular adhesion molecules (including Nectins 14), 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 13 in normal tissues, Nectin4 is particularly overexpressed in a number of tumor types, including breast, lung, urothelial, colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian cancer. Moreover, the upregulation of Nectin4 is an independent biomarker for overall survival in numerous cancer types. A large number of studies have revealed that high expression of Nectin4 is closely related to tumor occurrence and development in various cancer types, but the manner in which Nectin4 protein contributes to the onset and development of these malignancies is yet unknown. The present review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and functions of Nectin4 protein in the biological processes and current advances with regard to its expression and regulation in various cancer types.