We have previously demonstrated a significant correlative relationship between PTEN deletion and ERG rearrangement, both in the development of clinically localized prostate cancers and metastases.
Moreover, TMPRSS2-ERG affects the pattern of metastatic spread by increasing the incidence of tumors in hind limbs and spine, which are two of the most frequent sites of human PCa metastases.
TMPRSS2-ERG fusion is more frequent in primary prostate cancer than in corresponding metastases suggesting no selection of fusion-positive cells in the metastatic process.
Taken together, these data suggest that OPN is an ERG-target gene in PCa where the abnormal expression of the transcription factor ERG, due to the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion, disturbs the expression of genes that play an important role in PCa cells and associated metastases.
Similarly, whereas all metastases (41/41, 100%) shared the same ERG status across multiple sites from the same patient, 5% (2/41) of cases showed discordance for PTEN deletion status across multiple sites.
We analyzed TMPRSS2-ERG gene rearrangement status by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 521 cases of clinically localized surgically treated prostate cancer with 95 months of median follow-up and also in 40 unmatched metastases.
To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis.