title: The role of TMPRSS2:ERG in molecular stratification of PCa and its association with tumor aggressiveness: a study in Brazilian patients.
abstract: Recurrent gene fusions between the genes TMPRSS2 and ERG have been described in prostate cancer (PCa) and are found in 27% to 79% of radical prostatectomy. This fusion transcription results in ERG overexpression, which can be detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and provide a potential diagnostic marker for PCa. Three tissue microarrays (TMAs) containing samples from 98 patients with PCa and one TMA of 27 samples from individuals without PCa were tested for ERG immunostaining, and the presence of TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts was confirmed by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that 46.9% of tumors tested positive for ERG immunostaining, and this finding was consistent with the results of qRT-PCR testing (k = 0.694, p < 0.001). IHC had a specificity of 83.3% and a sensitivity of 81% in detecting TMPRSS2:ERG fusion. Patients with PSA < 4.0 ng/mL showed positive immunoreactivity for ERG (p = 0.031). Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that ERG expression did not influence the time of biochemical recurrence. This study demonstrates that both IHC and qRT-PCR are useful tools in detecting TMPRSS2:ERG fusions. A correlation between ERG expression and clinical and pathological parameters was not found, but the frequency, specificity and recurrence of ERG in PCa suggests that it may be a potential adjunct diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Flávia C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Uro-oncology, Barretos Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Eliney F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Barretos Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Cristovam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scapulatempo Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Teaching and Research, Barretos Cancer Hospital.
authors.forename: Adhemar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longatto-Filho
authors.affiliation: Group of Epidemiology and Statistics, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Antenor Duarte Vilella Street, 1331, zip code 14784-400, Barretos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleyton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zanardo-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Microscopy and Microanalysis Center, São Paulo State University, IBILCE/UNESP, Cristovão Colombo street, 2265, zip code 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sebastião R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taboga
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Teaching and Research, Barretos Cancer Hospital [2] Microscopy and Microanalysis Center, São Paulo State University, IBILCE/UNESP, Cristovão Colombo street, 2265, zip code 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana G P
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Campos
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050939:Gene Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C072312:ERG protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C421305:TMPRSS2 protein, human