Preferential expression of glycolipids reacting with Ricinus communis agglutinin-I in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Tumor-associated glycosphingolipids expressed on human colorectal adenocarcinomas were surveyed by staining of glycolipid bands on thin layer chromatogram with several horse radish peroxidase-labeled lectins. Glycolipids reacting with Ricinus communis agglutinin-I were found in all of the tumors from 9 patients with various types of colorectal adenocarcinomas, but only very weakly in the normal mucosa. Susceptibility to glycosidases and chromatographic mobilities indicated that these glycolipids were lactosylceramide, paragloboside and probably higher homologues of neolactoseries glycolipids.