Association of Fatty Acid Synthase (Fasn), Atp-Citrate Lyase (Acly), and Acyl-Coenzyme a Synthetase Long-Chain 4 (Acsl4) Expression and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (Her2) Status With Metastasis and Survival in Breast Cancer: A Five-Year Follow-Up Publisher



Dinarvand N ; Pourfarzam M ; Emadi M ; Hashemiyan MK ; Azizi R
Source: Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences Published:2026

Abstract

Background and purpose: Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide, with rising incidence rates, particularly in rapidly developing countries such as Iran. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between lipid metabolism enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FASN), ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY), and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and patient survival, with a focus on their potential role in breast cancer metastasis. In addition, we evaluated the prognostic significance of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) overexpression in breast cancer patients. Experimental approach: A total of 52 breast cancer tissue samples were collected from patients at Ordibehesht Clinic in Isfahan, Iran. RNA was extracted and analyzed using qRT-PCR to quantify the expression of FASN, ACLY, and ACSL4. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests were applied to assess survival rates and metastasis. Findings/Results: The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed an average time to metastasis of 36.18 months. No significant associations were found between metastasis and the expression levels of ACLY, FASN, or ACSL4. In contrast, HER-2 expression was significantly associated with metastasis, underscoring its potential as a critical prognostic marker. Other clinicopathological factors, including tumor grade, stage, size, and receptor status, were not significantly related to metastasis. Conclusion and implications: Our study highlights the importance of HER-2 as a key prognostic marker in breast cancer and suggests that further research is required to clarify the mechanisms underlying its role in cancer progression. © 2025 Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences.