SECRETION OF A FIBRONECTIN-LIKE SUBSTANCE FROM HEAD AND NECK CARCINOMAS

The secretion of a fibronectin-like substance in culture supernatants of cell lines of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas was observed. Culture supernatants of some tumor cells had a high cell-attachment ac tivity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with an antifibronectin anti body showed that the supernatant with cell attachment activity contain ed fibronectin. Furthermore, the cell attachment activity was clearly inhibited by the addition of a monoclonal antibody to fibronectin. The se findings strongly suggest that the fibronectin produced by cancer c ells is one of the potent mediators of the cell. attachment.