CD56 (NCAM)

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), also called CD56, is a homophilic binding glycoprotein expressed on the surface of neurons, glia, skeletal muscle and natural killer cells. NCAM has been implicated as having a role in cell–cell adhesion, neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, and learning and memory. Expression of CD56 may help identify NK cells and activated T cells. Tumors that are CD56-positive are myeloma, myeloid leukemia, neuroendocrine tumors, Wilms’ tumor, neuroblastoma, NK/T cell lymphomas, pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, small cell lung carcinoma, and the Ewing’s sarcoma family of tumors.