title: Expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) in oral nevi and melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) in oral nevi and melanomas, comparing the results with correspondent cutaneous lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of FASN was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 51 oral melanocytic lesions, including 38 intramucosal nevi and 13 primary oral melanomas, in 10 cutaneous nevi and in 14 melanomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatty acid synthase was strongly expressed only in melanomas, either of the oral mucosa or cutaneous. On the other hand, most oral and cutaneous nevi were negative, with a few oral cases showing focal and weak expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatty acid synthase is expressed in malignant melanocytes, and it can be a helpful marker to distinguish oral melanomas from oral melanocytic nevi.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology Section, Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. augustodelima33@hotmail.com
authors.forename: B A B
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carlos
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Delgado-Azañero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosqueda-Taylor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graner
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D004396:Coloring Agents; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D009506:Nevus / Q000201:enzymology*; D018330:Nevus, Intradermal / Q000201:enzymology; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000201:enzymology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004396:Coloring Agents; D064429:Fatty Acid Synthases