Involvement of tenascin-C in proliferation and migration of laryngeal carcinoma cells

Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein upregulated in va rious pathological processes. In this study, we investigated its distributi on in dysplasia and carcinoma of the human larynx using immunohistochemistr y and in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques. In all cancer tissues, TN-C i mmunostaining was markedly increased in the stroma, especially around the c ancer cell nests. In addition, cytoplasmic staining of cancer cells was als o observed in 62.5% of the invasive cases, the cells being distributed in t he periphery of the nests adjacent to the stroma. TN-C mRNA signals in canc er cells were detected in all six cases examined by ISH. Furthermore, in vi tro evaluation of the roles of TN-C demonstrated an increase in the prolife rating cell fraction in a dose-dependent manner. In a wound closure assay, the addition of TN-C promoted migration. We conclude that TN-C secreted by cancer cells may be involved in their proliferation and migration in an aut ocrine fashion.