Inverse relationship of expression between GM3 and globo-series ganglioside in human renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is highly metastatic. We previously showed that expression of globo-series ganglioside is associated with the metastatic po tential of RCC. However, the mechanism of metastasis remains largely unknow n, and there is no effective therapy for metastasis. Tt was recently shown that induction of differentiation of colon cancer cells by brefeldin ii was accompanied by an increase of GM3 with a concomitant decrease of neolacto- series gangliosides. To get a clue to a new method of therapy for RCC, we i nvestigated whether the similar changes occur in RCC cells expressing globe -series ganglioside. Growth suppression and an increase of GM3 simultaneous with a decrease of monosialosyl galactosyl globoside, a member of globe-se ries gangliosides, were observed in human RCC cell line ACIIN following bre feldin A treatment. The resultant change of the ganglioside profile is inve rsely related to the ganglioside pattern associated with the malignant pote ntial of RCC and almost coincided with that representative of RCC cases sho wing favorable prognoses. It is suggested that the inverse relationship of expression between GM3 and globe-series ganglioside is reflected on the deg ree of malignancy of RCC, and may be useful as one of the indicators for ex ploiting treatment methods of RCC. (C) 2000 Tohoku University Medical Press .