Anti-CD56 recognizes two proteins of the neural cell adhesion molecule, the basic molecule expressed on most neuroectodermally derived tissues and neoplasms (e.g. retinoblastoma, medulloblastomas, astrocytomas, neuroblastomas, and small cell carcinomas). It is also expressed on some mesodermally derived tumors (rhabdomyosarcoma). Anti-CD56 plays an important role in the diagnosis of nodal and nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas.
