title: TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion associated with lethal prostate cancer in a watchful waiting cohort.
abstract: The identification of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in prostate cancer suggests that distinct molecular subtypes may define risk for disease progression. In surgical series, TMPRSS2:ERG fusion was identified in 50% of the tumors. Here, we report on a population-based cohort of men with localized prostate cancers followed by expectant (watchful waiting) therapy with 15% (17/111) TMPRSS2:ERG fusion. We identified a statistically significant association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer specific death (cumulative incidence ratio=2.7, P<0.01, 95% confidence interval=1.3-5.8). Quantitative reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated high ets-related [corrected] gene (ERG) expression to be associated with TMPRSS2:ERG fusion (P<0.005). These data suggest that TMPRSS2:ERG fusion prostate cancers may have a more aggressive phenotype, possibly mediated through increased ERG expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115-6110, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demichelis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fall
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Andrén
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Setlur
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoshida
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mosquera
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pawitan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H-O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Adami
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mucci
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kantoff
authors.forename: S-O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chinnaiyan
authors.forename: J-E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D050939:Gene Fusion; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C515553:TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human