Detection of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating prostate cancer cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis.


METHODS
We analyzed the frequency of TMPRSS2:ERG and TMPRSS2:ETV1 transcripts in 27 prostate cancer biopsies from prostatectomies, and TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts in CTC isolated from 15 patients with advanced androgen independent disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to analyze the genomic truncation of ERG, which is the result of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in 10 of the 15 CTC samples.


RESULTS
TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts were found in 44% of our samples, but we did not detect expression of TMPRSS2:ETV1. Using FISH analysis we detected chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ERG gene in 6 of 10 CTC samples, including 1 case with associated TMPRSS2:ERG fusion at the primary site. However, TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts were not detected in any of the 15 CTC samples, including the 10 cases analyzed by FISH.


CONCLUSIONS
Although further study is required to address the association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer metastasis, detection of genomic truncation of the ERG gene by FISH analysis could be useful for monitoring the appearance of CTC and the potential for prostate cancer metastasis.
Mao
Xueying
X
Medical Oncology Centre, Cancer Institute, Department of Histopathology and Morbid Anatomy, Barts and London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
Shaw
Greg
G
James
Sharon Y
SY
Purkis
Patricia
P
Kudahetti
Sakunthala C
SC
Tsigani
Theodora
T
Kia
Saname
S
Young
Bryan D
BD
Oliver
R Tim D
RT
Berney
Dan
D
Prowse
David M
DM
Lu
Yong-Jie
YJ
D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C515553:TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human