Previous　studies　have　indicated　that　phospholipase　A2　(PLA2)　may　be　associated　with　tumorigenesis　in　human　tissues.　The　present　study　aimed　to　investigate　the　association　between　plasma　PLA2　activity　and　the　breast　cancer　(BC)　status　of　patients.　Increased　plasma　PLA2　activity　was　detected　in　patients　with　breast　cancer　when　compared　with　healthy　controls.　Plasma　samples　were　obtained　from　patients　with　BC　(n=169),　patients　with　benign　disease　(BD;　n=80)　and　healthy　controls　(n=81).　PLA2　activity　was　assessed　using　a　quantitative　fluorescent　assay　with　selective　inhibitors.　It　was　demonstrated　that　increased　PLA2　and　secretory　PLA2　(sPLA2)　activity　was　associated　with　tumor　stage,　particularly　in　patients　with　late-stage　disease.　Additionally,　smoking,　alcohol　consumption,　body　mass　index　(BMI)　and　age　of　patients　did　not　have　a　significant　effect　on　PLA2　activity.　Analysis　of　receiver　operating　characteristic　curves　revealed　that　plasma　PLA2　and　sPLA2　activities　were　increased　in　BC　patients　compared　with　healthy　controls.　It　was　concluded　that　plasma　PLA2　activity　may　serve　as　a　biomarker　for　patients　with　BC.