Fusion Between TMPRSS2 and ETS Family Members (ERG,ETV1, ETV4) in Prostate Cancers from Northern China

Abstract

In this study we evaluated the frequency of fusion between TMPRSS2 and ETS family members (ERG, ETV1,ETV4) in prostate cancers in patients from northern China in order to explore differences in fusion rates amongregions in northern and southern China, other parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. We examined 100prostate cancer patients, diagnosed by means of prostate biopsy; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) wasused to detect the expression of TMPRSS2, ERG, ETV1 and ETV4 in cancer tissue. Differences in gene fusionrates among different ethnics groups were also analyzed. Of the 100 prostate cancer patients, 55 (55%) hadthe fusion gene. Among the patients with the fusion gene, 46 (83.6%) patients had the TMPRSS2:ERG fusionproduct, 8 (14.8%) patients had TMPRSS2:ETV1 fusion, 1 (1.6%) patient had TMPRSS2:ETV4.