TMPRSS2-ERG-mediated feed-forward regulation of wild-type ERG in human prostate cancers

Cancer Res. 2011 Aug 15;71(16):5387-92. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-0876. Epub 2011 Jun 15.

Abstract

Recurrent gene fusions involving ETS family genes are a distinguishing feature of human prostate cancers, with TMPRSS2-ERG fusions representing the most common subtype. The TMPRSS2-ERG fusion transcript and its splice variants are well characterized in prostate cancers; however, not much is known about the levels and regulation of wild-type ERG. By employing an integrative approach, we show that the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion product binds to the ERG locus and drives the overexpression of wild-type ERG in prostate cancers. Knockdown of TMPRSS2-ERG in VCaP cells resulted in the downregulation of wild-type ERG transcription, whereas stable overexpression of TMPRSS2-ERG in the gene fusion-negative PC3 cells was associated with the upregulation of wild-type ERG transcript. Further, androgen signaling-mediated upregulation of TMPRSS2-ERG resulted in the concomitant upregulation of wild-type ERG transcription in VCaP cells. The loss of wild-type ERG expression was associated with a decrease in the invasive potential of VCaP cells. Importantly, 38% of clinically localized prostate cancers and 27% of metastatic prostate cancers harboring the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions exhibited overexpression of wild-type ERG. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the regulation of ERG in human prostate cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • DNA Primers
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Regulator ERG

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • ERG protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcriptional Regulator ERG
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human