Clinicopathological studies revealed that monosialosyl galactosyl globoside (MSGG) and disialosyl galactosyl globoside (DSGG) expressed by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are one of the biochemical indicator related to the metastatic potential. The present study examines the characteristics of four new human RCC cell lines and compares the expression of MSGG and DSGG among them using TLC immunostaining and flow cytometry. TOS-1 and TOS-2 were derived from metastatic subcutaneous tissues. TOS-3 and TOS-3LN were derived from the primary lesion and from metastatic lymph nodes respectively. Monolayer culture, light microscopy and electron microscopy of these cells showed that these cell lines were derived from RCC. TLC immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis revealed increased levels of MSGG in TOS-2 and TOS-3LN, and increased DSGG in TOS-1 and TOS-3LN. These cell lines would be useful for functional studies of globo-series ganglioside expressed by RCC.