The cadherins are a family of Ca -dependent adhesion molecules that function to mediate cell-cell binding critical to the maintenance of tissue structure and morphogenesis. The classic cadherin subfamily includes N-, P-, R-, B-, and E-cadherins, as well as about ten other members that are found in adherens junctions, a cellular structure near the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells. Research studies indicate that cancer cells have up-regulated N-cadherin in addition to loss of E-cadherin. This change in cadherin expression is called the "cadherin switch". VE-cadherin (for vascular endothelial cadherin, also designated cadherin-5) is localized at intercellular junctions of endothelial cells, where it is thought to play a role in the cohesion and organization of intercellular junctions.
