DLL3

DLL3 is a ligand that inhibits the Notch pathway, a signaling pathway involved in developing cells, including neuroendocrine cells in the lung. Only a few normal cell types express DLL3, and then only at low levels within the cytoplasm. However, several neuroendocrine tumors, including small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), strongly express DLL3 and use it to help tumor cells proliferate and migrate. Tumor cells express DLL3 on the cell surface, while normal tissues do not, making DLL3 an easily distinguishable target for SCLC therapies. Multiple treatments have successfully stemmed tumor growth by targeting DLL3, making DLL3 detection important for SCLC patients.