Abstract
Urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) excretion is increased in many disseminated cancers. We have postulated that patients with metastatic prostatic cancer may have an increased urinary GAG excretion and that this parameter may have potential as a tumor marker during the management of these patients. Urinary GAGs were precipitated with cetylpiridinium chloride, separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and stained with alcian blue. Heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate were identified in all, and hyaluronic acid in most patients by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and specific enzyme digestion. A fourth alcianophilic, non-GAG band could be identified in the urinary extract and is thought to be a urinary glycoprotein. In patients with localised prostatic cancer, total urinary GAG excretion was elevated in 2 of 18 patients, while in patients with metastatic prostatic cancer not in remission after hormonal therapy, 21 of 31 patients had elevated total urinary GAG levels. Separating and quantifying the urinary heparan sulphate and chondroitin sulphate content increased the sensitivity to 22 of 31 patients. Urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion may have value as a tumor marker in the follow-up of patients with prostatic cancer.
Published Version
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