Lastly, given that sPLA2-III, an atypical sPLA2, is insensitive to classical sPLA2 inhibitors and that no protein structurally homologous to sPLA2-III is encoded in the human genome, a new agent that specifically inhibits this unique sPLA2 may be useful for the treatment of patients with IBD and colorectal cancer. The gene discussed is PLA2G3; the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.