Changes in glycolipids in human renal‐cell carcinoma and their clinical significance

Abstract

The expression patterns of glycolipids of human renal‐cell carcinoma were studied in primary tumors from 23 cases and 5 metastatic lesions from 4 cases using HPTLC (high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography). The expression pattern of glycolipids in primary tumors was characteristic of the histological cell type. In granular‐cell carcinoma, lactosylceramide (CDH), GM₃ and the longer‐chain gangliosides (gangliosides migrating more slowly than GM₃) increased, although in clear‐cell carcinoma, CDH and other glycolipids tended to decrease. Globoside decreased in all cases but one, irrespective of cell type. In metastatic lesions of the clear‐cell type, the prominent increase in longer‐chain gangliosides was characteristic. Furthermore, the same expression pattern as that of metastastatic lesions was shown in 3 of 14 patients with primary clear‐cell carcinoma, all of whom developed metastases soon after radical nephrectomy. These studies indicate that the increased expression of the longer‐chain gangliosides in primary tumor is one of the factors associated with high metastatic potential, and also predict early post‐operative development of metastasis.