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Fatty acid synthase expression is increased in neoplastic lesions of the oral tongue
Author(s) -
Krontiras Helen,
Roye G. Dean,
Beenken Samuel E.,
Myers Russell B.,
Mayo Matthew S.,
Peters Glenn E.,
Grizzle William E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0347(199907)21:4<325::aid-hed6>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - tongue , immunohistochemistry , pathology , epithelium , dysplasia , epithelial dysplasia , biology , medicine
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. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 21: 325–329, 1999.