CD5 & EPCAM

This gene encodes a carcinoma-associated antigen and is a member of a family that includes at least two type I membrane proteins. This antigen is expressed on most normal epithelial cells and gastrointestinal carcinomas and functions as a homotypic calcium-independent cell adhesion molecule. The antigen is being used as a target for immunotherapy treatment of human carcinomas. Mutations in this gene result in congenital tufting enteropathy. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2008]

This gene encodes a member of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) superfamily. Members of this family are secreted or membrane-anchored proteins mainly found in cells associated with the immune system. This protein is a type-I transmembrane glycoprotein found on the surface of thymocytes, T lymphocytes and a subset of B lymphocytes. The encoded protein contains three SRCR domains and may act as a receptor to regulate T-cell proliferation. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.