Lipogenic gene expression profile in patients with gastric cancer

Numerous types of cancer exhibit increased lipogenesis and expression of lipogenic enzymes and transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1. Lipogenic gene expression is upregulated at the mRNA level, in concert with metabolic pathways associated with changes in expression and/or activity of lipogenic transcription factors. However, this expression pattern in human gastric carcinoma has not been elucidated. In this study, lipogenic gene expression in cancer tissues was investigated using quantitative PCR. In patients with gastric cancer, carnitine O-palmitoyltransferase type I mRNA and miR-33b were significantly downregulated, suggesting that miR-33b downregulation is mediated by conditions that also affect the expression and/or activity of transcription factors involved in lipogenic gene expression. Consequently, the association between miR-33b and gastric cancer may provide a novel strategy for the genetic diagnosis of gastric cancer. However, additional studies including a larger number of samples are required to confirm these results.