The first total synthesis of alpha-(2-->3)/alpha-(2-->6)-disialyl lactotetraosyl (DSLc4) ceramide and alpha-(2-->3)/alpha-(2-->6)-disialyl Lewis A (DSLe(a)) ganglioside as cancer-associated antigens is described. The suitably protected lactotriose (Lc3) derivatives were successively glycosylated with sialic acid, sialyl-alpha-(2-->3)-D-galactose and/or L-fucose donors in a regio- and stereo-selective manner, to give the protected type I hexa- and hepta-saccharides, respectively, which were then converted to the target gangliosides by the introduction of ceramide and subsequent complete deprotection.