We also assessed how these two markers correlated with the most common genetic alteration in prostate cancer: TMPRSS2 fusion to ERG (40-60% of carcinomas at the primary site), which places ERG expression under the control of the androgen-regulated TMPRSS2 gene, increasing expression.
Approximately half of the prostate carcinomas are characterized by a chromosomal rearrangement fusing the androgen-regulated gene TMPRSS2 to the oncogenic ETS transcription factor ERG.
Previously, we reported that 100% of androgen-independent metastatic prostate carcinomas harboring TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion were associated with interstitial deletion (Edel).