Glycosaminoglycans in human breast cancer

Abnormal concentrations of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) have been reported for various types of tumors, suggesting that they may play a role in neoplasia. The correlation between the content of individual GAGs was studied in breast tumor tissues. The total content of GAG was estimated by uronic acid analysis. The relative distributions of dermatan sulphate, heparan sulphate, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate were measured after cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Mammary tissue samples were obtained at the time of surgery from 11 women, 6 with fibroadenomata and 5 with carcinoma. From each patient, biopsies were obtained centrally in the tumor and perilesional areas adjacent to the tumor, and also from clinically uninvolved tissue in the same region. In the central areas, it was found that carcinoma had a significant increase in chondroitin sulphate and uronic acid content, and a significant decrease in dermatan sulphate content, as compared with fibroadenoma. The chondroitin sulphate content in perilesional carcinomatous tissue was significantly greater than in clinically uninvolved tissue.