Accumulation of small hyaluronan oligosaccharides in tumour interstitial fluid correlates with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Association studies have implicated the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) and its degrading enzymes the hyaluronidases in tumour progression and metastasis. Oligosaccharides of degraded HA have been ascribed a number of biological functions that are not exerted by high-molecular-weight HA (HMW-HA). However, whether these small HA oligosaccharides (sHA) have a role in tumour progression currently remains uncertain due to an inability to analyse their concentration in tumours.

Methods

We report a novel method to determine the concentration of sHA ranging from 6 to 25 disaccharides in tumour interstitial fluid (TIF). Levels of sHA were measured in TIF from experimental rat tumours and human colorectal tumours.

Results

While the majority of HA

SUBMITTER: Schmaus A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4119989 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature