The presence of foetal ganglioside antigens 3′-IsoLM1 and 3′6′-IsoLD1 in both glioma tissue and surrounding areas from human brain

Summary Glioma-associated gangliosides, in particular the expression of foetal gangliosides 3′-isoLM1 and 3′6′-isoLD1, have been investigated in biopsies from 44 patients with astrocytoma grade II, anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, oligodendrogliomas, and glioblastoma multiforme. The total ganglioside content decreased in proportion to the estimated number of tumour cells present in the biopsy. Ganglioside GD3 was increased in 17 of the tumour tissues and in 6 of the surrounding area specimens. In agreement with our previous studies, tumour specimens contained the lactoseries ganglioside 3′-isoLM1 and, as demonstrated for the first time, the disialylated form of the ganglioside, 3′6′-isoLD1. These gangliosides are in normal brain tissue restricted to the developmental period. Most frequent was the expression of ganglioside 3′-isoLM1 which was detected in 92% of the tumour specimens in concentrations varying between just detectable amounts to 13 nmol/g wet weight. In the area surrounding the macroscopic tumour tissue 78% of the specimens expressed 3′-isoLM1 and the values varied between just detectable amounts to 24 nmol/g wet weight. Ganglioside 3′6′-isoLD1 was found in 47% of the tumour biopsies and in only 17% of the specimens taken outside macroscopic tumour tissue. The values varied between non-detectable amounts to 40 nmol/g wet weight of tissue. The expression of 3′-isoLM1 correlated significantly (p<0.01) to malignancy grade. For 3′6′-isoLD1 a significant (p<0.05) difference was found between tomour and surrounding tissue. Likewise, 3′6′-isoLD1 correlated significantly (p<0.05) to malignancy grade. The correlation between 3′-isoLM1 and 3′6′-isoLD1 to malignancy grade and the frequent expression of these gangliosides both in the tumour itself and in its surrounding area should encourage additional studies concerning their biological role in tumour disease.