The TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion is found in approximately half of all prostate cancers.
The functional and prognostic significance of TMPRSS2-ERG is, however, not fully understood. Based on a historical watchful waiting cohort, an association between TMPRSS2-ERG, evaluated as positive immune staining, and shorter survival of prostate cancer patients was identified. Expression of ERG was also associated with clinical markers such as advanced tumor stage, high Gleason score, presence of metastasis and prognostic tumor cell markers such as high Ki67, pEGFR and pAkt. Novel associations between TMPRSS2-ERG and alterations in the tumor stroma, for example, increased vascular density, hyaluronan and PDGFRβ and decreased Caveolin-1, all known to be associated with an aggressive disease, were found. The present study suggests that the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion gene is associated with a more aggressive prostate cancer phenotype, supported by changes in the tumor stroma.
Written by:
Hägglöf C, Hammarsten P, Strömvall K, Egevad L, Josefsson A, Stattin P, Granfors T, Bergh A. Are you the author?
Department of Medical Biosciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Urology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Departments of Surgery and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Urology, Västerås Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden.
Reference: PLoS One. 2014 Feb 5;9(2):e86824.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086824
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24505269
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