A fetal glycolipid expressed on adenocarcinomas of the colon.

Reactivity of neuraminidase-treated colorectal carcinoma cells with antibodies that detect the X-carbohydrate structure was greater than the reactivity of untreated cells. The same results were obtained with glycolipid extracts of meconium, a colorectal carcinoma cell line, three freshly excised human adenocarcinomas, and normal bronchial mucosa. The glycolipid was either not expressed or expressed in smaller quantities on the corresponding normal colon tissue. Further study showed that the major sialo-X glycolipid has six sugars including a single sialic acid which blocks X-antigenicity. These glycolipids were further analyzed by ion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. These monosialo-X glycolipid antigens might serve as potential tumor markers.