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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
09:49
Oncogenic Gene Fusion Detection Using Anchored Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Followed by Next Generation Sequencing
Published on: July 5, 2019
ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer
Jeremy P Clark1, Colin S Cooper
1Male Urological Cancer Research Centre, Sutton, UK. jeremy.clark@icr.ac.uk
Nature Reviews. Urology
|August 7, 2009
Summary
ETS gene rearrangements are early events in prostate cancer, driving neoplastic development. While not sufficient alone, they suggest therapeutic targets, particularly TMPRSS2-ERG fusions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Chromosomal rearrangements activating ETS gene family members are frequent in prostate cancer.
- TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions are the most common, while ETV1, ETV4, and ETV5 fusions are less frequent but more varied.
- ETS gene rearrangements are early events in prostate cancer development, persisting through metastatic and castration-resistant stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of ETS gene rearrangements in prostate cancer.
- To explore the association between ETS alterations and clinical outcomes.
- To identify potential therapeutic strategies based on ETS gene fusion expression signatures.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ETS gene family member expression in prostate cancer.
- Identification and characterization of gene fusion structures.
- Comparison of gene expression profiles between cancers with and without ETS rearrangements.
Main Results:
- ETS gene rearrangements are early events in prostate cancer and are present in advanced disease stages.
- ETS alterations alone are insufficient for cancer induction; only ERG duplication correlates with poor outcome.
- Prostate cancers with TMPRSS2-ERG fusions show distinct expression signatures, including beta-estradiol signaling and higher HDAC1 and ion channel gene expression.
Conclusions:
- ETS gene rearrangements are critical early events in prostate cancer pathogenesis.
- Clinical outcome is not solely determined by ETS gene status, suggesting other factors are involved.
- Expression patterns associated with ETS fusions, like TMPRSS2-ERG, offer potential therapeutic avenues.
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