Glycosaminoglycan synthesis by wilms’ tumor

Wilms’ tumor contains approximately 1 mg hyaluronic acid and approximately 0.3 mg sulfated glycosaminoglycan per g tissue. Minced tumor and cells cultured from the tumor incorporate labeled acetate and glucosamine into hyaluronic acid and sulfated glycosaminoglycans. A particulate enzyme preparation derived from the tumor catalyzed the transfer of GlcUA or GlcNAc from UDP-GlcUA or UDP-GlcNAc at a rate of approximately 20 nmol/hr/mg protein to produce high molecular weight hyaluronic acid chains. The urine and plasma of a Wilms’ tumor patient contained approximately 20 mg hyaluronic acid and 8 mg sulfated glycosaminoglycan/100 ml, respectively. It appears that this higher than normal level of circulating glycosaminoglycan is synthesized by the Wilms’ tumor. Speculation: The conversion of normal cells to malignant cells results in changes in regulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Of special interest is the same qualitative change in hyaluronic acid synthesis in Wilms’ tumor as observed in SV40-transformed human fibroblasts.