Immunohistochemical localization of chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate proteoglycans in tumour tissues.

Immunohistochemical localization of chondroitin sulphate and dermatan sulphate proteoglycans (PGs) was observed in 70 tumour tissues, using monoclonal antibodies 9A-2 and 3B-3 raised against core molecules obtained from chondroitin sulphate PG by chondroitinase ABC-treatment. They recognize a stub of delta Di-4S and delta Di-6S binding to core protein via a linkage tetrasaccharide, respectively. The antibody 6B6 raised against dermatan sulphate PG obtained from an ovarian fibroma capsule in our laboratory was also used. The interstitial fibrous elements, so-called 'specific stroma' within the cancer cell nests contained chondroitin 4-sulphate PG as revealed with 9A-2, whereas the surrounding connective tissue and the preexisting fibrous connective tissue involved in the tumour growth consisted of dermatan sulphate PG with a considerable amount of chondroitin 4-sulphate PG. Chondroitin 6-sulphate PG as revealed with 3B-3 was located in the connective tissue proliferating from blood vessels and muscle tissue in association with the invasive growth of tumour cells. Chondroitin 6-sulphate PG was also observed in the basement membrane components of some tumours. In non-epithelial tumours (fibrogenic, chondrogenic, osteogenic and neurogenic tumours), chondroitin 4-sulphate was in fibrous portions. When collagenization and hyalinization progressed, dermatan sulphate PG was observed to increase in quantity.