C8 Galactosylceramide is a synthetic C8 short-chain derivative of known membrane microdomain-forming sphingolipids. It increases the amount delivered and toxicity of doxorubicin in cancerous but not non-cancerous cells when incorporated into the nanoliposomal membrane of nanoliposomal-doxorubicin. C8 Galactosylceramide induces proliferation and cytokine production by splenocytes in vitro at concentrations ranging from 100-1,000 ng/ml but has no effect on natural killer T cell production in vivo. It also activates NF-kappaB production in C6 glioma cells when used at a concentration of 10 uM.