Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are a family of closely related cell surface glycoproteins involved in cell-cell interactions during growth and are thoμght to play an important role in embryogenesis and development. The CAM family includes NCAM (neuronal cell adhesion molecule), ICAM (intracellular adhesion molecule), PECAM (platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule), BLCAM (produced by alternative splicing of the CD22 gene), VCAM (vascular cell adhesion molecule), and HCAM (homing cell adhesion molecule, also designed CD44), etc.