Tumor-associated glycolipid antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies.

Four types of glycolipid changes have been observed associated with oncogenic transformation: 1) incomplete synthesis, 2) neosynthesis, 3) a shifting a glycolipid synthesis from one series to another, and 4) the change of glycolipid organization in membranes. Both incomplete synthesis and neosynthesis result in the accumulation of glycolipid markers which are distinctive to tumor cells and can be defined by monoclonal antibodies. Glycolipids with X determinant, particularly those with di- or poly-fucosylated structure in a large variety of human adenocarcinoma, GD3 ganglioside in human melanoma, and ceramide trihexoside in Burkitt lymphoma are among these glycolipid markers which have been well characterized. These glycolipid markers can be useful targets for diagnosis and therapy of human cancer.