BACKGROUNDFatty acid synthase (FAS) is differentially overexpressed and hyperactivated in many tumors and indicates poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to explore the expression of FAS mRNA and its significance in lung cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues, compared with normal lung tissues.

METHODSFifty-five lung cancer tissues, 32 paracancerous tissues and 32 normal lung tissues were collected. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and imaging analysis were applied to determine the FAS mRNA expression.

RESULTSThe positive rate of FAS mRNA expression was 72.7%, 62.5% and 25.0% in lung cancer tissues, paracancerous tissues and normal lung tissues, respectively (P < 0.01). The expression level of FAS mRNA was 0.885±0.06 in lung cancer tissues, 0.564±0.10 in paracancerous tissues and 0.259±0.04 in normal lung tissues. The expression level of FAS mRNA in lung cancer was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues and normal lung tissues (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFAS mRNA is significantly overexpressed in lung cancer. The results suggest that overexpression of tumor lipid metabolism may play an important role in the oncogenesis and development of lung cancer.