Cholesterol masks membrane glycosphingolipid tumor-associated antigens to reduce their immunodetection in human cancer biopsies

but not untreated, prostate cancer patients. Lowering tumor membrane cholesterol may permit immune recognition of otherwise unavailable tumor-associated GSL carbohydrate, for more effective immunosurveillance and active/ passive immunotherapy. Our results show standard immunodetection of tumor GSLs significantly under assesses tumor membrane GSL content, impinging on the current use of such antigens as cancer vaccines.