title: Fatty acid synthase expression is increased in neoplastic lesions of the oral tongue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fatty acid synthase (FASE) is required for fatty acid synthesis. Elevated levels of FASE have been observed in a variety of malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the expression of FASE in 56 primary squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the tongue using immunohistochemistry (IHC) with a monoclonal antibody to FASE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoreactivity was low in histologically normal epithelium (0.42 +/- .07, n = 43), moderate in mildly dysplastic epithelium (1.41 +/- 11, n = 40), and strong in SCC of the tongue (1.64 +/- 10, n = 50). Both mild dysplasia and SCC stained more strongly than histologically normal epithelium (p<0.00001). Well-differentiated tumors showed increased immunoreactivity when compared to less well-differentiated tumors (p=0.044). Decreased overall survival was observed among patients with tumors with low immunoreactivity (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of FASE in dysplasia and squamous carcinomas of the oral tongue may be an indicator of both differentiation and early neoplastic change. FASE expression may be useful diagnostically, prognostically, and as a potential target for therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294-0007, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Krontiras
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Roye
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Beenken
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mayo
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Grizzle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases