Nestin is a Class VI intermediate filament expressed in the developing central nervous system in early embryonic neuroepithelial stem cells. This protein has been widely used as a predominant marker for stem / progenitor cells, glioma cells, and tumor endothelial cells. Furthermore, it is a superior angiogenic marker to evaluate neovascularity of endothelial cells in tumor. Because if it's roles in angiogenisis and tumorgenesis, Nestin antibodies are useful cancer markers.

Although it is often used as a marker for proliferating and migrating cells very little is known about Nestin's function or regulation.