title: Detection of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene in benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: The Ets-related gene fusions are among the most common molecular alterations in prostate cancer (PCa) and are detected in more than 50 % of PCas. Transmembrane protease serine 2 and Ets-related gene fusion (TMPRSS2-ERG) is the most frequently identified chimeric gene and has been associated with undifferentiated and invasive phenotypes. TMPRSS2-ERG has also been detected in prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions and more rarely in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) regions mainly in PCa-bearing glands. The possibility that the fusion TMPRSS2-ERG may be present in BPH samples in the absence of apparent PCa was addressed. Out of 115 BPH samples, three were found positive employing RT-PCR. The presence of the fusion gene was confirmed by FISH for these samples, and an additional four samples were found to carry the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion out of 43 tested by the later approach. The presence of the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion did not result in altered expression of 12 putative downstream targets. These findings indicate that TMPRSS2-ERG may or may not lead to PCa development.
authors: Department of Genetics, "Saint Savvas" Anticancer Hospital, Alexandras Ave. 172, 11522, Athens, Greece.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Velaeti
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Dimitriadis
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kontogianni-Katsarou
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Savvani
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Sdrolia
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pantazi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Stefanakis
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Trangas
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Pandis
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Petraki
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; C515553:TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human