Evidence for the presence of fatty acid methyl esters in human hepatoma tissue from a patient with hypercholesterolemia.

The lipid composition of a human hepatoma tissue (liver cell carcinoma) was examined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and an unusual lipid spot was found in a large quantity. It was identified as consisting of fatty acid methyl esters by TLC and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. In the fatty acid methyl ester fraction, oleate (18:1) and palmitate (16:0) were dominant. Furthermore, very unusual fatty acid methyl esters, such as methyl 2-methyl oleate, were detected. These unusual lipids could be detected neither in cirrhotic lesions of the host liver nor in normal control tissues.