Distinctive glycolipid patterns in Wilms' tumor and renal cell carcinoma.

Glycolipid patterns were analysed chromatographically in Wilms' tumor and renal cell carcinoma tissues and compared with those of uninvolved tissue. Ganglioside GM3 was found to be increased in both cancer tissues, whereas sulfatides accumulated only in renal cell carcinoma, as reported earlier. Neolactotetraosylceramide was detected in both cancer tissues, but not in the uninvolved kidney tissues. In four cases of Wilms' tumors, only a low level of sulfotransferase towards galactosylceramide was found in one case, while no activity was detected in the three other cases. Present results show that the increased sulfatide(s) in the renal cell carcinoma and the deficiency of the sulfatides in Wilms' tumors appear to be biochemical characteristics of histologically different carcinomas.