Transcription-mediated chimeric RNAs in prostate cancer: time to revisit old hypothesis?

OMICS. 2014 Oct;18(10):615-24. doi: 10.1089/omi.2014.0042. Epub 2014 Sep 4.

Abstract

Chromosomal rearrangements and fusion genes play important roles in tumor development and progression. Four high-frequency prostate cancer-specific fusion genes were recently reported in Chinese cases. We attempted to confirm one of the fusion genes, USP9Y-TTTY15, by reverse transcription PCR, but detected the presence of the USP9Y-TTTY15 fusion transcript in cancer samples, nonmalignant prostate tissues, and normal tissues from other organs, demonstrating that it is a transcription-induced chimeric RNA, which is commonly produced in normal tissues. In 105 prostate cancer samples and case-matched adjacent nonmalignant tissues, we determined the expression level of USP9Y-TTTY15 and a previously reported transcription-induced chimeric RNA, SLC45A3-ELK4. The expression levels of both chimeric RNAs vary greatly in cancer and normal cells. USP9Y-TTTY15 expression is neither higher in cancer than adjacent normal tissues, nor correlated with features of advanced prostate cancer. Although the expression level of SLC45A3-ELK4 is higher in cancer than normal cells, and a dramatic increase in its expression from normal to cancer cells is correlated with advanced disease, its expression level in cancer samples alone is not correlated with any clinical parameters. These data show that both chimeric RNAs contribute less to prostate carcinogenesis than previously reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • Prostate / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
  • RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptome
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / genetics
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / metabolism
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-4 / genetics
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-4 / metabolism

Substances

  • ELK4 protein, human
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • SLC45a3 protein, human
  • USP9Y protein, human
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-4
  • Ubiquitin Thiolesterase