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TROP2 Is Uniformly Expressed in Primary Prostate Cancer but Frequently Reduced in Recurrent Disease
Jonathan Jeutner1, Ronald Simon2, Maximilian Lennartz2
1Department of Urology, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Cancers
|July 28, 2026
Summary
TROP2 (TACSTD2) is highly expressed in primary prostate cancer but often reduced in recurrent disease. Measuring TROP2 levels may help predict treatment response in recurrent prostate cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Pathology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- TROP2 (TACSTD2) is a key target for antibody-drug conjugates, prevalent in epithelial cancers.
- Limited data exist on TROP2 protein expression in extensive, clinically detailed prostate cancer cohorts, especially for recurrent disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate TROP2 protein expression in a large cohort of primary and recurrent prostate cancer specimens.
- To correlate TROP2 expression with clinicopathological features, recurrence patterns, and ERG status.
Main Methods:
- TROP2 immunohistochemistry was performed on a prostate cancer tissue microarray with 17,747 primary and 258 recurrent samples.
- Staining data were analyzed against clinicopathological parameters, biochemical recurrence, and ERG status.
Main Results:
- TROP2 was highly expressed (strong in 94.5%) in primary prostate cancer, with reduced expression linked to higher pT stage and Gleason grade.
- Reduced TROP2 correlated with early PSA recurrence in ERG-positive cancers but lacked independent prognostic value overall.
- TROP2 expression was markedly reduced in recurrent cancers (strong in 57.6%) compared to primary tumors (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Consistent high TROP2 expression in primary prostate cancer supports its role as a therapeutic target.
- Reduced TROP2 in many recurrent prostate cancers suggests a need for predictive testing to guide targeted therapies.
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