title: ERG protein expression in human tumors detected with a rabbit monoclonal antibody.
abstract: Avian v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (ERG) is highly sensitive and specific for endothelial neoplasms and specific for prostate carcinoma. We characterized a rabbit anti-ERG antibody as an immunohistochemical agent to detect ERG expression in various tumors using tissue microarrays with a wide array of epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. ERG was positive in 63 (38%) of 168 prostate carcinomas and negative in all other epithelial tumors. ERG was positive in all 125 vascular lesions. It was also positive in the sarcomatoid component of a high-grade urothelial carcinoma and 6 (40%) of 15 meningiomas. Twelve (80%) of 15 meningiomas were positive for Fli1, including all 6 ERG-positive cases. Positive immunostaining with this antibody is therefore highly specific for prostate carcinoma and vascular lesions, with a few caveats. ERG is rarely detected in nonvascular mesenchymal tumors with this antibody. Furthermore, about 40% of meningiomas are also positive for ERG immunohistochemically, probably because of cross-reactivity with Fli1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Long Island, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Oksana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yaskiv
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Huiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falzarano
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magi-Galluzzi
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008579:Meningioma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072312:ERG protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG