Detection of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating prostate cancer cells / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed the frequency of TMPRSS2ERG and TMPRSS2ETV1 transcripts in 27 prostate cancer biopsies from prostatectomies, and TMPRSS2ERG transcripts in CTC isolated from 15 patients with advanced androgen independent disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to analyze the genomic truncation of ERG, which is the result of TMPRSS2ERG fusion in 10 of the 15 CTC samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TMPRSS2ERG transcripts were found in 44% of our samples, but we did not detect expression of TMPRSS2ETV1. Using FISH analysis we detected chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ERG gene in 6 of 10 CTC samples, including 1 case with associated TMPRSS2ERG fusion at the primary site. However, TMPRSS2ERG transcripts were not detected in any of the 15 CTC samples, including the 10 cases analyzed by FISH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although further study is required to address the association between TMPRSS2ERG fusion and prostate cancer metastasis, detection of genomic truncation of the ERG gene by FISH analysis could be useful for monitoring the appearance of CTC and the potential for prostate cancer metastasis.</p>