Expression of cytosolic and group X secretory phospholipase A(2) genes in human colorectal adenocarcinomas.

Gene expression of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and protein level of secretory PLA(2) group X (sPLA(2)-X) are upregulated in human colorectal cancer and provide cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with arachidonic acid, resulting in increased levels of PGE(2). Mutated ras-genes are suggested to be involved in the regulatory pathway of cPLA(2) in lung cancer cells. We analysed the gene expression of cPLA(2) and sPLA(2)-X in 42 and 38 primary colorectal tumours, respectively, with and without K-ras mutations. We found an up-regulation of cPLA(2) mRNA but the induction in tumour tissues does not correlate with Ras-gene mutations. Moreover, our results cannot consistently reflect an overexpression of sPLA(2)-X gene in colorectal cancer tissues.