Importance of Hyaluronan Metabolism and Signalling in Tumour Progression

Abstract: Hyaluronan, an unbranched glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix, has an amazingly simple structure. Initially thought to fulfil only hydrating and space-filling functions in tissues, evidence generated during the past decades shows that hyaluronan is involved in intriguingly complex signalling events in health and disease. In cancer, increased hyaluronan levels have been correlated with poor patient survival.The research underlying this thesis sheds light on the interplay between hyaluronan, its producing and degrading enzymes as well as the triggered intracellular signalling in the metastatic cascade. Utilising breast cancer and normal mammary cells, paper I and II investigate the initial steps of tumour progression: proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Hyaluronan synthase 2 plays a central role in all these processes. In paper III, the focus is shifted toward growth factor-induced hyaluronan production. Stimulation with PDGF-BB, which can be secreted by tumour cells, increased hyaluronan production via upregulation of HAS2 in fibroblast cultures. Finally, paper IV discusses the involvement of hyaluronidases and CD44 in angiogenesis and intravasation – events that are associated with advanced cancer stages.