Hyaluronate and invasiveness of the rabbit V2 carcinoma.

We propose that hyaluronate, a major component of extracellular matrices through which cells migrate during embryonic tissue development and in regenerative processes, is also concentrated in the environment through which neoplastic cells invade local host tissues and may facilitate this process. The hyaluronate content of invasive V2 carcinoma grown in rabbit was found to be 3-4 times greater than that of the same tumor grown in the nude mouse, in which it is noninvasive. Moreover, hyaluronate concentrations were most elevated in the connective tissue interface between the tumor mass and the neighboring host tissue in the invasive rabbit tumors. The particular site of tumor implantation in the rabbit or nude mouse did not affect the concentrations of hyaluronate in either the parenchyma or the surrounding connective tissue. Similar values were obtained for neoplasms grown in muscle, which normally contains little hyaluronate, and in subcutaneous tissue, which is relatively rich in this glycosaminoglycan.