Cadherin-LI/CDH17 (Liver-Intestine Marker) [CDH17/2615]

LI-Cadherin (Liver-intestine cadherin), also known as Cadherin 17 (CDH17), is a member of the cadherin family. Cadherins are Ca(2+)- dependent transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion and are important for the structural integrity of epithelia. LIcadherin and the classical E-cadherin are the predominant two cadherins in the intestinal epithelium. LI-cadherin contains seven cadherin repeats and a short cytoplasmic domain that does not interact with catenins or the actin cytoskeleton. It is involved in intestinal peptide transport. In normal tissues, the CDH17 antibody labels epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic duct, but not in kidney, liver and other tissues. In tumors, CDH17 is also specifically expressed on adenocarcinoma of the digestive system including liver cancer. Less than 1% of non-GI tract tumors showed immunoreactivity with CDH17. CDH17 is thus considered to be a useful marker for tumors derived from the digestive system. It is a sensitive marker for the identification of gastric intestinal metaplasia and well differentiated adenocarcinomas.