The relationship between TMPRSS2-Ets fusion gene and prostate cancer / 国际肿瘤学杂志

A unique fusion between the TMPRSS2 gene and the Ets genes ERG,ETV1、ETV4 or ETV5 has been described in prostate cancer, TMPRSS2-ERG is the most high frequency of all. Until now more than 20 kinds of TMPRSS2- ERG hybrid transcripts are found, and they encode 9 kinds of proteins. Deletion is the main mechanism of fusion. Fusion gene can be used to make a diagnosis of prostate cancer , direct clinical medication , then fusion type, fusion number and transcriptive type are also associated with prognosis of dis-ease. So, besides of serum PSA, Gleason score, TMPRSS2- ERG is expected to be another important predicator of prognosis.