This gene encodes a cell surface glycoprotein and member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family of proteins. Expression of this gene may be downregulated in colon and rectal cancer. Additionally, lower expression levels of this gene may be predictive of rectal cancer recurrence. This gene is present in a CEA family gene cluster on chromosome 19. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2015].