Secretory Phospholipase A2 IIa Mediates Expression of Growth Factor Receptors in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Receptor tyrosine kinases of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family such as human epidermal receptor-2 (HER2) are involved in the development and progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Prior studies have demonstrated that group IIa secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2 IIa) can function as a ligand for the EGFR family of receptors and lead to an increase in receptor signaling.

Aims: We hypothesized that sPLA2 IIa inhibition downregulates the expression of EGFR and HER-2 in EAC and through this mechanism decreases proliferation in EAC.