Hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: a case of ETS gene fusion heterogeneity

J Clin Pathol. 2009 Apr;62(4):373-6. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2008.061515. Epub 2008 Dec 9.

Abstract

Fusion of the hormone-regulated gene TMPRSS2 with ERG occurs in 50-70% of prostate cancers; fusions of ETV1 with one of several partners occur in approximately 10% of prostate cancers. These two translocations are mutually exclusive. The presence of subclasses of these chromosomal rearrangements may indicate worse prognosis, with the subclass 2+Edel, which has duplication of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion sequences, indicating particularly poor survival. However as this case shows, significant heterogeneity can exist with ERG and ETV1 rearrangements occurring in both prostate intra-epithelial neoplasia and cancer in the same prostatectomy specimen and with adjacent cancer areas containing a single copy, duplication and even triplication of the rearranged locus. As the majority of ETS gene fusions are hormone regulated, they could explain the pathogenesis underlying exquisitely hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. This is exemplified by the case presented here of a patient diagnosed in 1991 who remains asymptomatic and chemotherapy-naïve after having long-lasting tumour responses to multiple lines of systemic hormonal treatments.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Fusion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / genetics*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • ETV1 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets
  • TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, human
  • Transcription Factors