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Abnormal Extracellular Components in Wilms' Tumor¹

Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry [S. E. A., J. W. B., and L. A. B.], and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine [D. R. P.], University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007

Sedimentation velocity studies have revealed an abnormal component in the sera of Wilms' tumor patients. This substance can also be detected by Alcian blue staining after electrophoresis of the sera on cellulose acetate strips, and can be precipitated from serum with 3% acetic acid. All of these tests are positive with sera from Wilms' tumor patients.

Cell-free extracts of freshly excised Wilms' tumor tissue have been prepared by treating the tumor mince with dilute solutions of ethylenediaminetetraacetate or trypsin in isotonic media. Although these two types of extract are not the same, each contains only one or two major components identifiable by sedimentation velocity and electrophoretic analyses. A close similarity between the abnormal serum component and material extracted from the tumor with ethylenediaminetetraacetate is apparent from these analyses. Both extracts contain mucopolysaccharide, as revealed by analyses for hexosamines and uronic acids.

These findings may be useful for laboratory diagnosis of Wilms' tumor with serum samples. Moreover, they point to a close similarity between a carbohydrate-protein complex secreted by the tumor and the abnormal substance identified in the serum.

¹ This investigation was supported by an institutional grant (IN-21-I and IN-21-J) from the American Cancer Society.

² Recipient of Training Grant DE 0094-07 from the National Institute of Dental Research.

Received 1/17/69. Accepted 8/19/69.