The role of basement membrane proteins on the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in an adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line.

We investigated the presence of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) in the adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line CAC2 using immunofluorescence microscopy. Additionally, we analysed the role of laminin and type IV collagen in N-CAM expression. We demonstrated that cultured adenoid cystic carcinoma cells express N-CAM. Control cells presented a scattered N-CAM expression on cell membrane, and type IV collagen had no effect in N-CAM distribution. CAC2 cells grown on laminin-coated coverslips expressed N-CAM concentrated on cell lamellipodia suggesting relationship with migratory activity. Our results showed that cultured adenoid cystic carcinoma cells express N-CAM and this expression is modulated by extracellular matrix.