Fatty acid synthase expression defines distinct molecular signatures in prostate cancer.

The androgen-regulated enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS), required for de novo lipogenesis, is overexpressed in several cancers including prostate carcinoma and has been associated with aggressive disease. FAS expression was assessed in 81 prostate carcinomas, both by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays and by Affymetrix Hu95Av2 oligonucleotide arrays. Both FAS mRNA and protein were significantly overexpressed in prostate carcinomas compared with the corresponding normal tissue.