CD6ALCAM

CD6ALCAM, also known as CD6-ALCAM, is a putative chimeric transcript and protein that has been reported in some human cancer samples. It is described as arising from a fusion between the CD6 gene, which encodes a T cell receptor–associated glycoprotein involved in T cell signaling, and the ALCAM gene, which encodes the activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule. The fusion is thought to result from chromosomal rearrangements or transcriptional read-through, yielding a single open reading frame that may encode a membrane-anchored protein combining extracellular domains from CD6 with portions of ALCAM.

Molecularly, the predicted product is expected to retain portions of the Ig-like extracellular domains responsible for ligand binding in CD6, potentially followed by transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions contributed by the fused partner. Because the precise structure and boundaries of the fusion can vary, the exact topology and functional motifs of CD6ALCAM remain to be confirmed in experimental studies.

Functionally, CD6 and ALCAM participate in cell adhesion and immune cell interactions, including the formation of immunological synapses. A CD6ALCAM chimera could theoretically alter cell–cell adhesion, signaling, or trafficking, with possible implications for immune responses or cancer cell behavior. However, evidence for a defined biological role of CD6ALCAM is limited, and its significance remains uncertain.

Clinical significance and research status are preliminary. CD6ALCAM is not a validated biomarker or therapeutic target, and additional experimental validation is required to determine its prevalence, expression patterns, and functional impact across diseases.