OBJECTIVETo separate and detect membrane phospholipids and study the relationship of metabolism and signal transduction pathways of membrane phospholipids with genesis and hepatic metastasis of large intestinal carcinoma.

METHODSForty-eight cases of colorectal cancer were detected with high performance liquid chromatography. Membrane phospholipids of phosphatidylinosital (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in primary foci, paratumor intestinal mucosa and hepatic metastasis of large intestine cancer were separated and analyzed.

RESULTSIn primary foci, paratumor intestinal mucosa, and hepatic metastasis of the 48 cases, the contents (mg/g) of PI were: 0.92 +/- 0.12, 1.57 +/- 0.14, 1.54 +/- 0.15 respectively, and PC 56.47 +/- 5.33, 108.57 +/- 6.37, 116.35 +/- 6.85. The contents of PI and PC were higher in primary foci and hepatic metastasis than in paratumor mucosa (F = 363.10, 870.10, P < 0.01). The contents of PE in the three tissues were 18.23 +/- 3.56, 42.02 +/- 4.33, 79.51 +/- 5.52, and in hepatic metastasis was the highest (F = 1 149.63, P < 0.01). PI and PC in primary foci of hepatic metastatic group and nonmetastasis group were not significantly different (t = 3.55, P > 0.05). But the PE content was higher in hepatic metastasis than in primary foci (t = 115.87, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMembrane phospholipids have obvious variations in genesis and hepatic metastasis of large intestine cancer. Rises of PI and PC were associated with genesis of large intestine carcinoma. The increase of PE content is closely related to invasion and hepatic metastasis of large intestine cancer.