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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
What is the molecular pathology of low-risk prostate cancer?
Hemamali Samaratunga1, Jonathan I Epstein
1Department of Anatomical Pathology, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 134 Whitmore Street, Taringa, Brisbane, QLD, 4068, Australia. hema_samaratunga@snp.com.au
Objectives:
Low-risk prostate cancer is defined as a clinical T1c or T2a tumor with a Gleason score of
Materials And Methods:
The literature on molecular pathology of prostate cancer was reviewed using MEDLINE and reference lists of relevant publications focusing on early and late molecular events and available molecular biomarkers in prostate cancer.
Results:
There are a variety of molecular markers with the potential to be clinically utilized for assessment of low risk prostate cancer. One of the most promising is TMPRSS2: ETS fusion, which is a homogeneous event occurring early in prostate carcinogenesis. Other promising markers include p27, EZH2 and c-MYC.
Conclusions:
FISH analysis or RT-PCR based assays to detect TMPRSS2: ETS fusion and immunohistochemical assessment of p27, EZH2 and c-MYC may become useful ancillary tests in patients with low risk prostate cancer. Some serum biomarkers have promise for future use. Large prospective studies followed by clinical trials are necessary before these molecular markers could be integrated into clinical practice.
