The role and clinical applications of bioactive lysolipids in ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: To review the current understanding of the role of bioactive lys olipids in ovarian cancer and their potential clinical applications. METHODS: A MEDLINE search and our own work, including some unpublished work , are the major sources of the review. The MEDLINE search terms used includ ed lysophosphatidic acid, lysophophatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylino sitol (LPI), sphingosine-1-phosphate, and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) . RESULTS: Elevated lysolipid levels were detected in plasma and ascites samp les from patients with ovarian cancer compared with samples from healthy co ntrols or patients with nonmalignant diseases. These lysolipids regulate gr owth adhesion, production of angiogenic factors, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Ovarian cancer cells were likely to be at least one of the sources for elevated lysolipid levels in the blood and ascites of patients with ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Bioactive lysolipid levels might be sensitive markers for dete cting gynecologic cancers, particularly ovarian cancer. The prognostic valu e of lysolipids in ascites is worth further investigation. Bioactive lysoli pid molecules can affect both the proliferative and metastatic potentials o f ovarian cancer cells; therefore, regulation of the production or degradat ion of these lipids and interception of the interaction between these lipid s and their receptors could provide novel and useful preventative or therap eutic measures. Copyright (C) 2001 by the Society for Gynecologic Investiga tion.