# CADM2

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/cadm2/  
OnCo record `cadm2` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

CADM2 (Cell adhesion molecule 2) is a gene that drives cell growth when it is altered. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Melanoma.

## Summary

Adhesion molecule that engages in homo- and heterophilic interactions with the other nectin-like family members, leading to cell aggregation. Important for synapse organisation, providing regulated trans-synaptic adhesion. Preferentially binds to oligodendrocytes.

IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (1 activating, 0 loss-of-function), covering Melanoma.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: cell adhesion molecule 2; Cell adhesion molecule 2; NECL3; Necl-3; SynCAM2; SynCAM-2; IGSF4D
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: CADM2
- Class: oncogene
- Biology: Adhesion molecule that engages in homo- and heterophilic interactions with the other nectin-like family members, leading to cell aggregation. Important for synapse organisation, providing regulated trans-synaptic adhesion. Preferentially binds to oligodendrocytes. Interacts with measles hemagglutinin to trigger hyperfusogenic F-mediated membrane fusion and presumably transsynaptic cell-to-cell transmission of the virus. Location: Cell membrane; Synapse; Cell projection, axon (UniProt). Locus 3p12.1 (HGNC).
- Where found: Melanoma: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (MEL)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:29849: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:29849
- UniProt Q8N3J6: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q8N3J6/entry
- NCBI Gene 253559: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/253559
- Ensembl ENSG00000175161: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000175161

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/)
- cancers: [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/cadm2.json