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Background: Fatty acid synthase (FAS), the key enzyme responsible for the synthesis of fatty acids, is weakly expressed in some normal human tissues. Recently, FAS has been demonstrated to be overexpressed in many non‐neoplastic highly proliferative lesions and in aggressive carcinomas with poor outcome, including colon, breast and ovary carcinomas.

Methods: In order to evaluate the prognostic significance of FAS in human melanoma, we analysed by means of immunohistochemistry, using a monoclonal anti‐FAS antibody, 77 primary melanomas and 30 nodal and cutaneous metastasis. Thirty nevi (15 dermal and 15 junctional nevi) were used as controls. All patients were followed‐up for 5 years.

Results: Thirty‐four melanomas expressed strong FAS immunostaining; the remaining 43 cases showed weak expression or were negative. All cutaneous and nodal metastasis were strongly positive. All …