TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion and clinicopathologic characteristics of Korean prostate cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To survey the status of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in Korean prostate cancer patients, we assessed the differences in clinicopathologic characteristics and biochemical recurrence according to TMPRSS2-ERG fusion status.


METHODS
The incidence of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene was evaluated via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using ERG break-apart probes in 254 prostate cancer tissues resected by radical prostatectomy, and analyses of clinicopathologic parameters and biochemical recurrence were conducted.


RESULTS
The fusion rate of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene was 20.9% (53/254). TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion was identified more frequently in patients with low Gleason grade (primary Gleason pattern ≤ 3 or sum of Gleason score ≤ 7, P = .015 and .027). Patients with large cribriform glands in Gleason pattern 4 harbored a rare TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene compared with patients without large cribriform glands (P = .027). The incidence of biochemical recurrence did not differ according to TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene status (P = .598).


CONCLUSIONS
ERG gene aberration did not correlate with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancers in Korean patients. Lower Gleason grade demonstrated higher rates of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion compared with high-grade tumors, including those demonstrating a large cribriform glands pattern. Prostate cancer with large cribriform glands revealed rare TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion.
Lee
Kyoungbun
K
Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chae
Ji Youn
JY
Kwak
Cheol
C
Ku
Ja Hyeon
JH
Moon
Kyung Chul
KC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050939:Gene Fusion; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis
D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C515553:TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen