Heterogeneity and chronology of PTEN deletion and ERG fusion in prostate cancer.

摘要: TMPRSS2:ERG fusions, in combination with deletion of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) tumor suppressor, have been suggested to cooperatively drive progression prostate cancer. We utilized a novel heterogeneity tissue microarray containing samples from 10 different blocks 189 prostatectomy specimens study genomic PTEN alterations individual foci. were found 48/123 (39%) analyzable foci, including 40 foci deletions, 7 rearrangement, 1 focus rearrangement only. was homogeneously aberrant only 4 (8%) heterogeneously 44 (92%) specific sequence molecular events breakage followed by DNA sequences flanking breakpoint, resulting homozygous deletion. The observation that 16 19 homogeneous ERG positivity had focal but none (P<0.0001) suggests typically develop subsequent fusions. demonstrate high level intratumoral deletions rearrangements challenges potential routine diagnosis testing biopsies. fusion strongly expression may directly development aberrations.