Modulation of glycosaminoglycans in mouse mammary tumors

Glycosaminoglycans were isolated from mouse mammary tumors and compared to the glycosaminoglycans isolated from normal postnatal developmental stages of the gland. Small, early tumors contained hyaluronic acid and a heparan with low sulfate content. This pattern was also characteristic of undeveloped normal glands from virgin mice. These tumors were encapsulated and not locally invasive. Large tumors contained a dermatan sulfate-nucleic acid complex previously described as the predominant glycosaminoglycan in the fully developed lactating normal gland. The large tumors were locally invasive. Mammary tumors did not utilize new patterns of extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans, but returned to develop essentially less mature patterns in an uncontrolled manner.