CD93—An emerging vascular target in cancer therapy

CD93 is a single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein that belongs to the C-type lectin domain group XIV family of proteins. Although it is known to be expressed in other cell types, namely, in some subsets of immune cells, CD93 is primarily expressed on endothelial cells, where it acts as a crucial regulator of angiogenesis. CD93 interacts with a variety of ligands and signalling partners, which activates complex downstream signalling pathways that enable it to regulate dynamic processes such as endothelial cell migration and adhesion. Interestingly, CD93 is known to be up-regulated in several pathologies, such as inflammatory conditions and different types of cancers, making it an attractive novel therapeutic target. In the present work, we review and summarize the existing literature on CD93's structure and signalling, involvement and contribution to prognosis in cancer, as well as current efforts in targeting this protein for disease treatment. With this, we underscore the importance of CD93 as a promising therapeutic target for future cancer therapies and provide insights into the present need for translation efforts and future directions.