Effect of N-CAM on in vitro invasion of human adenoid cystic carcinoma cells

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands is characterised by aggressive behaviour, high rate of local recurrences, neurotropism and late metastasis . In a previous work we demonstrated that adenoid cystic carcinoma cultured cells (CAC2 cells) expressed NCAM. It was suggested that this expression, modulated by extracellular matrix, would be correlated to cell movement. Th e aim of our study was to verify whether CAC2 cells presented invasion capa city. Moreover, we tested whether the neural adhesion molecule (N-CAM) woul d participate in this process. CAC2 cells were either previously treated, o r not (control), with a monoclonal antibody against N-CAM. Invasion assays were carried out using a modified Boyden chamber (Transwell chamber). CAC2 cells (10(5)) were dispensed into Transwell upper chamber on the top of Mat rigel coated filter. The cells that invaded the filters in the first 8 h we re counted under light microscopy, yielding data for the invasion rates (%) . Control CAC2 cells presented an invasion rate of 5.28 +/-0.04%. The invas ion rate raised to 6.53 +/-0.2% when N-CAM was blocked with monoclonal anti body, N-CAM impaired the adenoid cystic carcinoma cell invasion in vitro. T herefore, we suggest an anti-invasive role for N-CAM in adenoid cystic carc inoma. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.