Nectin-4, a member of the Nectin and nectin-like family of cell adhesion molecules, is highly expressed in normal embryonic and fetal tissues, with expression levels decreasing after reaching adulthood and being restricted in healthy adult tissues. Nectin-4 is overexpressed in various types of tumor cells and is known to promote tumor cell growth and proliferation. Solid tumors that frequently exhibit high Nectin-4 expression include bladder, pancreatic, triple-negative breast, non-small cell lung, stomach, esophageal, and ovarian cancers, among others.
Research has shown that Nectin-4 enhances tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and invasion by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting a significant role in cancer initiation and metastasis. These findings have prompted the development of drugs targeting Nectin-4 as a potential therapeutic strategy.