Group II and IV phospholipase A(2) are produced in human pancreatic cancer cells and influence prognosis.

BACKGROUND Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) is involved in regulating biosynthesis of arachidonic acid and its metabolites. There are three major structurally different forms of PLA(2): group I, also called pancreatic PLA(2) (PLA(2)-I); group II, referred to as secretory non-pancreatic or synovial or platelet PLA(2) (PLA(2)-II); group IV, referred to as cytosolic PLA(2) (PLA(2)-IV). AIMS To examine PLA(2)-I, PLA(2)-II, and PLA(2)-IV in normal and pancreatic cancer tissues. Patients-PLA(2) was studied in 58 pancreatic adenocarcinomas, obtained from 25 women and 33 men undergoing pancreatic resection. Normal organ donor pancreas served as control. METHODS The enzymes were analysed by northern blot, in situ hybridisation, and immunohistochemistry. The molecular findings were correlated with clinical variables of the patients. RESULTS Northern blot analysis of total RNA showed enhanced PLA(2) group II and IV mRNA expression in 52% and 55% of the pancreatic cancer samples respectively compared with the normal controls (p = 0.0013 and p = 0.0025). On immunohistochemical analysis, intense PLA(2)-I immunoreactivity was seen in acinar cells, but not in ductal cells, in the normal pancreas. In pancreatic cancer cells, PLA(2)-I immunostaining was absent. PLA(2)-II immunostaining was visible only in some acinar and ductal cells in the normal pancreas, whereas in pancreatic cancer increased PLA(2)-II immunoreactivity was present in 65% of the cancer samples. On in situ hybridisation, weak PLA(2)-IV mRNA signals were detected in acinar and ductal cells of normal samples; these signals were present to a much greater extent in pancreatic cancer cells. The presence of PLA(2)-II in pancreatic cancer was associated with a higher degree of fibrosis (p<0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the enhanced expression of PLA(2)-II and longer survival after surgery (p<0.03), but not of PLA(2)-IV and longer postoperative survival. CONCLUSION These data suggest that PLA(2)-II and PLA(2)-IV are upregulated in human pancreatic cancer, and that upregulation of PLA(2)-II in pancreatic cancer covariates negatively with cancer cell growth.