title: Serum levels of fatty acid synthase in colorectal cancer patients are associated with tumor stage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fatty acid synthase is a common phenotype to various human cancers including those of prostate, colon, lung, endometrium, and stomach. Increased fatty acid synthase levels have been detected in serum from patients with breast and pancreatic cancer. In this study, serum levels of fatty acid synthase were measured in colorectal cancer patients at different stages of disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive 67 patients with colorectal cancer were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of fatty acid synthase were examined by ELISA test. The Kruskal-Wallis test and the χ                            (2) method for trend have been used to analyze data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum fatty acid synthase levels of patients belonging to three groups of stage disease are statistically different. The patients with stage III and IV have significantly higher serum levels of fatty acid synthase than patients with stage I-II. There is a positive trend in serum fatty acid synthase levels from stage I-II to stage III and IV of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatty acid synthase levels are associated with the stage of disease in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors: Laboratory of Biochemistry, National Institute for Digestive Diseases, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Notarnicola
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Tutino
authors: Menotti
authors: M
authors: Calvani
authors: Dionigi
authors: D
authors: Lorusso
authors: Vito
authors: V
authors: Guerra
authors: Maria Gabriella
authors: MG
authors: Caruso
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D054890:Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C518729:FASN protein, human; D054890:Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I