Changes in glycolipid expression in human testicular tumor.

Glycolipids were extracted from testicular tumor tissues of 13 patients, and their pattern of expression compared with that of normal testicular tissue. The most conspicuous and consistent change in the tumor extracts was marked accumulation of CTH (ceramide trihexoside). Structural analysis by enzyme cleavage showed that CTH which accumulated in the tumor tissue was Gb3 (Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-Cer). Immunohistochemistry using anti-Gb3 monoclonal antibody (MAb) (1A4) also indicated massive accumulation of Gb3 in the tumor tissue. Gb3 may be a new marker of testicular tumors, especially seminomas, for which useful markers are so far lacking.