Identification of differentially expressed prostate genes: increased expression of transcription factor ETS-2 in prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the genetic events in the malignant transformation of prostatic cells. This is due in large measure to the cellular heterogeneity of the prostate.


METHODS
An amplification method was devised to synthesize cDNA from small samples of cancer and benign tissues of the same resected glands. Differential gene expression of candidate informative markers between cancer and benign was screened by the polymerase chain reaction with gene-specific oligonucleotide primers.


RESULTS
The expression of a transcription factor, ETS-2, was shown to be elevated in some cancer specimens. Elevated expression was also noted for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and another transcription factor, SEF2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our method can be used to identify quickly genes that are differentially expressed between benign and cancerous prostate cells. Transcription factors, such as ETS-2, may play a significant role in cancer progression.
Liu
A Y
AY
Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Corey
E
E
Vessella
R L
RL
Lange
P H
PH
True
L D
LD
Huang
G M
GM
Nelson
P S
PS
Hood
L
L
D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015342:DNA Probes; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C107465:ERF protein, human; C494069:ETS2 protein, human; D050787:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-2; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase