Background: Although secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) has been shown to be involved in various biological processes, its specific roles in sub-types of cancer development remain to be elucidated.
Materials and methods: We examined the expression of sPLA2 group III (GIII) in 142 patients with colorectal cancer using immunohistochemistry, and its correlation with clinicopathological features and outcomes. In addition, we examined the co-expression of sPLA2GIII and sPLA2GX using serial tissue sections to clarify the roles of both proteins in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Results: In 66 cases, diffuse staining of sPLA2GIII was seen; this was defined as the group with high expression. High expression was associated with a significantly higher rate of lymph node metastasis (p=0.02) and poorer survival (p=0.03) compared with low expression. Patients with low sPLA2GIII and high sPLA2GX expression had a significantly higher survival rate than those with high sPLA2GIII and low sPLA2GX expression (p=0.038).
Conclusion: sPLA2GIII expression may be used as a risk factor for lymph node metastasis and a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer. In addition, sPLA2GIII and sPLA2GX may play opposing roles in colorectal carcinogenesis.
Keywords: Phospholipase A2; colorectal cancer; immunohistochemistry; lymph node metastasis.
Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.