NOV is a member of the CCN family of secreted, cysteine-rich regulatory proteins. The full-length NOV protein contains four structural domains that confer distinct, and sometimes opposing, biological activities. Elevated expression of NOV is associated with certain tumors, including Wilm’s tumor and most nephroblastomas. However, in other tumor types and certain cancer cell lines, increased tumorigenicity and proliferation is correlated with decreased NOV expression. Additionally, NOV induces cell adhesion and cell migration by signaling through specific cell-surface integrins, and by binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycans and to fibulin 1C. NOV has also been reported to exert proangiogenic activities.