Fatty acid synthase expression is strongly related to menopause in early-stage breast cancer patients.

Objective: Overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), the enzyme involved in the de novo synthesis of fatty acids, has been reported in several human carcinomas, including breast cancer, and has been related to poor prognosis. Our aim was to analyze the association of FASN tumor tissue expression with clinicopathological and anthropometrical features in early-stage breast cancer patients.
Methods: We prospectively studied 53 women with early-stage breast cancer who were treated with surgical operation and postoperative chemotherapy.
Results: Menopause status and age were strongly associated with higher levels of FASN tumor expression (P < 0.005 and P = 0.038, respectively). Body mass index and pathological stage were also related to FASN tumor expression.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that FASN could be a potential therapeutic target in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. However, further studies are needed.