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Combined analysis of TMPRSS2–ERG and TERT for improved prognosis of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Sabaliauskaite Rasa,
Jarmalaite Sonata,
Petroska Donatas,
Dasevicius Darius,
Laurinavicius Arvydas,
Jankevicius Feliksas,
Lazutka Juozas R.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
genes, chromosomes and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.754
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1098-2264
pISSN - 1045-2257
DOI - 10.1002/gcc.21963
Subject(s) - tmprss2 , erg , prostate cancer , prostate , fusion gene , prostatectomy , medicine , cancer research , pca3 , biochemical recurrence , cancer , biology , gene , disease , ophthalmology , genetics , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , retinal
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease with diverse clinical outcomes. TMPRSS2–ERG is the most common gene fusion in PCa, whereas activation of telomerase is a common feature of various malignancies. The aim of our study was to explore the combined utility of these and some other biomarkers in predicting biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Prostate specimens and urine sediments from 179 previously untreated patients with pT2‐pT3 stage PCa were analyzed for expression of telomerase ( TERT and TR ) and the TMPRSS2–ERG fusion gene by means of reverse transcription PCR. Real‐time PCR was used for quantification of ERG and SPINK1 expression. In total, 74% (117/158) of the prostate adenocarcinomas were positive for the TMPRSS2–ERG and/or TERT expression. Noninvasively, these transcripts were identified in 31% (19/61) of catheterized urine specimens. Significantly higher expression of ERG was detected in TMPRSS2–ERG‐ positive tumors ( P < 0.0001), whereas more intense expression of SPINK1 was characteristic for the TMPRSS2–ERG‐ negative tumors ( P = 0.003). TERT‐ positive cases also had elevated levels of ERG ( P = 0.016), suggesting a possible link between aberrant expression of ERG and reactivation of TERT in prostate tumors. The cases negative for both transcripts, TMPRSS2–ERG and TERT, rarely recurred ( P = 0.014) and showed significantly longer biochemical recurrence‐free period ( P = 0.022) as compared to the TMPRSS2–ERG and/or TERT‐ positive cases. The results of our study suggest that combined analysis of TMPRSS2–ERG and TERT expression can be a valuable tool for early prediction of biochemical recurrence of PCa after radical prostatectomy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.