Study on ganglioside composition in brain tumours supra- and infratentorial.

The composition of gangliosides in primary tumors depends on their histological origin and differentiation grade (biological malignancy). The aim of the present study was the comparison of gangliosides in various types of brain tumours. The studies were performed on specimens from 20 high grade gliomas, 5 low grade gliomas, 8 meningiomas and 9 metastatic tumours. The isolated gangliosides were separated on silica 60 HPTLC plates and their mobilities were compared with glycolipids standards. The following observations were made: 1. high and low grade gliomas had similar ganglioside profiles comprising 7 different species; 2. the profiles of gangliosides isolated from metastatic neoplasms differ considerably from those of gliomas as well as menigiomas.