Phospholipase A2 group IIA expression correlates with prolonged survival in gastric cancer

The secreted phospholipase A2 type IIA (PLA2G2A) gene has been identified as a modifier of intestinal adenoma multiplicity in Apc(Min/+) mice. The aim of the present study was to analyse the clinical significance of PLA2G2A expression in human gastric cancer.

Using immunohistochemistry, cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of PLA2G2A was observed in 27% (40 of 149) of gastric cancer tissues compared with negative staining in normal mucosa. The PLA2G2A expression rate in well-differentiated carcinoma was elevated significantly compared with that in poorly differentiated carcinoma (46% versus 19%, P = 0.001). Statistical analysis also revealed that PLA2G2A expression correlated negatively with depth of mural invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (P < 0.05). Patients with positive PLA2G2A expression showed higher 5-year overall survival than those with negative expression (P = 0.0004). In intestinal metaplasia, PLA2G2A was found to be abundant in Paneth cells. The coexistence of PLA2G2A and lysozyme was observed in Paneth cell-rich gastric cancer (P < 0.0001).

PLA2G2A may predict survival and might be a potential biomarker for early detection and individualized therapy.