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TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion associated with lethal prostate cancer in a watchful waiting cohort

An Erratum to this article was published on 16 August 2007

Abstract

The identification of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in prostate cancer suggests that distinct molecular subtypes may define risk for disease progression. In surgical series, TMPRSS2:ERG fusion was identified in 50% of the tumors. Here, we report on a population-based cohort of men with localized prostate cancers followed by expectant (watchful waiting) therapy with 15% (17/111) TMPRSS2:ERG fusion. We identified a statistically significant association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer specific death (cumulative incidence ratio=2.7, P<0.01, 95% confidence interval=1.3–5.8). Quantitative reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reaction demonstrated high estrogen-regulated gene (ERG) expression to be associated with TMPRSS2:ERG fusion (P<0.005). These data suggest that TMPRSS2:ERG fusion prostate cancers may have a more aggressive phenotype, possibly mediated through increased ERG expression.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute Prostate Cancer SPORE at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center NCI P50 CA090381 (PWK and MAR), National Institute of Aging R01AG21404 (MAR and AMC), The Early Detection Research Network of the NCI UO1CA113913 (MAR and AMC), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG no. PE1179/1–1 (SP), the Prostate Cancer Foundation (FD) and the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Program (KF). We appreciate the critical comments from Todd Golub and Meir Stampfer. We are grateful to Danielle Cullinane and Kelly Lamb for technical support critical to this study.

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Correspondence to M A Rubin.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Oncogene website (http://www.nature.com/onc).

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Demichelis, F., Fall, K., Perner, S. et al. TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion associated with lethal prostate cancer in a watchful waiting cohort. Oncogene 26, 4596–4599 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1210237

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