Extracellular matrix components of benign ovarian tumours (cystadenoma, adenofibroma, cystadenofibroma) were analysed. The investigated tumours contained twice as much collagen than control ovarian tissues. Significant alterations in mutual quantitative relationships between collagens of various types were observed. The proportion of type I collagen decreased and that of type III collagen increased. The accumulation of collagen was accompanied by a reduction in sulphated glycosaminoglycan content whereas the amount of hyaluronic acid was not changed. Dermatan sulphate was the most abundant glycosaminoglycan component. It is suggested that the accumulation of collagen (natural barrier to the migration of tumour cells) and underexpression of glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans (binding some growth factors and interleukins) may exert an inhibitory effect on tumour growth.
The walls of human abdominal aortas and atherosclerosis-induced aneurysms contain similar amounts of collagen. The quantitative ratio between collagens of various types of this protein does not differ significantly either, whereas solubility of the collagen in aneurysmal wall and its susceptibility to the action of EDTA are distinctly decreased. In contrast with collagen, the amount of elastin in aneurysms is significantly lower. Total amount of glycosaminoglycans slightly decreased as compared with that of normal tissue, but the ratio of particular compounds varies. The percentage of chondroitin sulphate is increased and that of heparan sulphate significantly decreased. The significance of these changes in pathogenesis of aneurysms is discussed.