CD151 is a member of the evolutionarily conserved tetraspanin family of multipass glycoproteins, highlighted by four transmembrane domains, two extracellular loops, and N/C-termini that reside within the cytoplasm. Identified as the first member of the tetraspanin family to be implicated in tumorigenesis, research studies have demonstrated that CD151 participates in tumor neovascularization, tumor cell cell invasion, and cell adhesion. Furthermore, a positive correlation exists between CD151 expression levels and poor prognosis for tumors of the lung, kidney, and prostate. CD151 is localized predominantly to the plasma membrane and research studies have demonstrated that CD151 exerts its pro-tumorigenic effects, in part, through the modulation of laminin-binding integrins and oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases, such as c-Met and EGFR.
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