Marked heterogeneity of ERG expression in large primary prostate cancers

Approximately 50% of prostate cancers are characterized by TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease serine 2)-ERG (avian v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog) gene fusions resulting in an androgen-regulated overexpression of the transcription factor ERG. Some studies have suggested prognostic or predictive relevance of ERG status in prostate cancer. Such concepts could be impaired by extensive ERG heterogeneity in analyzed tumors. The aim of this study was to analyze the extent of heterogeneity for TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer. To enable large-scale studies on the extent of heterogeneity of biomarkers in prostate cancer, a heterogeneity tissue microarray containing samples from 10 different tumor blocks of 190 large prostate cancers selected from a consecutive series of 480 radical prostatectomies was developed. ERG expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Positive ERG immunostaining was found in arrayed cancer-containing samples from 103 of the 178 analyzable patients (58%). ERG immunostaining was homogeneously positive in 29 prostate cancers (16%), whereas heterogeneous ERG positivity was seen in 74 cancers (42%). ERG heterogeneity was within one tumor focus (intrafocal heterogeneity) in 69 cases (93% of heterogeneous cases) and between different tumor foci (interfocal heterogeneity) in 5 cases (7%). Marked intrafocal heterogeneity challenges the concept of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion always representing an early step in prostate cancer development. Marked heterogeneity also compromises the concept of analyzing ERG status for treatment decisions in diagnostic needle core biopsies.