Analyses of glycosaminoglycans in human lung cancer

Studies were conducted on the total amount of glycosaminoglycans and glycosaminoglycan composition in adenocarcinoma tissue of human lung. The glycosaminoglycans were prepared by exhaustive proteinase digestion of adenocarcinoma tissue from human lungs and of lung tissue without pulmonary diseases taken at autopsy as a control. The glycosaminoglycan classes were characterized by biochemical, enzymatic, and electrophoretic methods. The presence of heparin, which has until now not been found in lung cancer tissue, was demonstrated on both carcinoma and control tissues. The levels of whole glycosaminoglycans were markedly increased in cancer tissue compared to the controls. The classes of glycosaminoglycans which increased in lung carcinoma tissue were predominantly chondroitin-4-sulfate and chondroitin-6-sulfate. Both hyaluronic acid and heparin were slightly increased in cancer tissue.