Heparinase and low molecular weight heparins as antitumor agents

Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, play a key role in the extracellular matrix. Heparin is an acidic polysaccharide, characterized by a disaccharide repeating unit of hexosamine and uronic acid (L-iduronic or D-glucuronic acid) connected through 1-4 linkages.Heparin is heterogeneous due to the varying degree of modification of the functional groups in the disaccharide unit. Heparin may be hydrolyzed with acid only under vigorous condition which results in considerable caramelization, especially of the glucoronic acid and extensive splitting of heparin.Thus, the product are mono(or) disaccharides from which all the sulphated groups are removed.