Glycosaminoglycans of rat colorectal adenocarcinoma

A transplantable colorectal adenocarcinoma and the normal colonic mucosa derived from rats of ACI/N strain were digested with pronase, and the glycosaminoglycan fractions were obtained by fractionation with cetylpyridinium chloride. The glycosaminoglycan fraction derived from the adenocarcinoma contained substantial amounts of chondroitin sulfate A/C, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and hyaluronic acid, whereas chondroitin sulfate A/C and dermatan sulfate were undetectable in that derived from the normal colonic mucosa. An increment in the heparan sulfate content was also apparent in the adenocarcinoma, while the level of hyaluronic acid appeared to be unchanged. Analyses of the extract of the tumor tissue with 5mM ethylenediaminetetraacetate (pH 7.0) indicated that heparan sulfate was present largely, if not completely, in the form of proteoglycan.