CLEC3A (C-type lectin domain family 3 member A) is a secreted extracellular matrix protein that primarily functions in cell adhesion and tissue remodeling processes. The protein enhances tissue plasminogen activator-mediated plasminogen activation by specifically binding to plasminogen, contributing to fibrinolytic processes 1. CLEC3A assembles into extended extracellular networks and is predominantly expressed in cartilage, particularly in resting, proliferating, and hypertrophic growth-plate cartilage 1. In pathological contexts, CLEC3A demonstrates significant clinical relevance across multiple diseases. It serves as a biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration, where its expression changes correlate with degenerative processes 2. In cancer biology, CLEC3A exhibits oncogenic properties, promoting tumor aggressiveness through the AKT1/mTOR/HIF1α signaling pathway in osteosarcoma 3 and driving cancer progression through YAP activation and enhanced tumor-ECM interactions in breast carcinomas 4. The protein also serves as a prognostic marker, with elevated expression associated with tumor recurrence in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors 5 and worse prognosis in breast cancer 4. Additionally, CLEC3A can be detected as an autoantibody target in osteoarthritis patients 6 and shows potential as a biomarker for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer 7.