Fatty acid synthase (FAS) predictive strength in poorly differentiated early breast carcinomas

Aims and background: Many normal and human cancer tissues express fatty aci d synthase (FAS), the major enzyme required for endogenous fatty acid biosy nthesis. Strong expression of FAS seems to be associated with a poor progno sis. This study examines the strength of FAS and other common markers of re lapse in poorly differentiated breast carcinoma. Materials and methods: Fifty-one patients with poorly differentiated ductal infiltrating breast carcinomas were followed up for more than 10 years. Im munohistochemical detection of FAS was associated with morphological featur es of the tumors, with immunohistochemical expression of c-erbB-2, cathepsi n D, estrogen and progesterone receptor status and with DNA ploidy in order to detect a statistical correlation, Results: The chi-square test revealed a correlation between FAS and peritum oral lymphatic vessel invasion (PLVI) (P = 0.001). Univariate analysis show ed that FAS was correlated with disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.0001), Oth er prognosticators associated with DFS were PLVI (P = 0.002), estrogen (P = 0.008) and progesterone receptor status (P = 0.007), Bivariate analysis sh owed that FAS was a further prognostic discriminant of DFS within the ER, P gR and PLVI subsets. Discussion: FAS is a reliable prognosticator of recurrence in poorly differ entiated early breast carcinomas, Association of FAS with PLVI may be usefu l to plan a correct follow-up in patients with breast neoplasms.