GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN STRUCTURE AND CONTENT DIFFER ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINS OF HUMAN TUMORS

The glycosaminoglycans of the tumor mass and from the urine of patient s with a nephroblastoma of embryonic origin (Wilms' tumor) and hyperne phroma were analyzed. The urine of patients with Wilms' tumors prior t o treatment, and two patients with metastasis contained high levels of hyaluronic acid (2-5 mg/l of urine) when compared to patients after s urgery or chemotherapy where the content of hyaluronic acid was less t han 0.1 mg/l. Urine of patients with hypernephroma and normal individu als contained even smaller amounts of hyaluronic acid. Normal kidneys contain mainly dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate, while the hyperne phroma and Wilms' tumor contain substantial amounts of chondroitin sul fate. The amount of glycosaminoglycans isolated from Wilms' tumor and hypernephroma were 10 times and 3 times, respectively, greater than no rmal kidneys. The amounts of hyaluronic acid in Wilms' tumor varied fr om 56 to 73% whereas normal kidneys contained about 13%. Chondroitin s ulfate was also increased in Wilms' tumor and hypernephroma. It corres ponded to 11% and 42%, respectively, of the total glycosaminoglycans. These and other findings indicate that the glycosaminoglycans of Wilms ' tumors resemble those present during embryonic development of normal tissues whereas those in hypernephroma are typical of other carcinoma s of different origins.