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ERG gene rearrangement status in prostate cancer detected by immunohistochemistry

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Abstract

TMPRSS2–ERG, the most common gene fusion in prostate cancer, is associated with expression of a truncated protein product of the oncogene ERG. A novel anti-ERG monoclonal antibody has been recently characterized. We investigated the correlation between ERG rearrangement assessed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and ERG expression detected by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort of patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer. Thirteen tissue microarrays comprising 305 tumors and a subset of 112 samples of nonneoplastic prostatic tissue were assessed for ERG rearrangement status by FISH and for ERG expression by immunohistochemistry. Accuracy of ERG detection by immunohistochemistry in predicting ERG status as assessed by FISH (criterion standard) was calculated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values. Of 305 tumor foci, 103 (34%) showed ERG rearrangement by FISH. ERG was detected by immunohistochemistry in 100 (33%) cases, 99 of which were FISH positive. ERG detection by immunohistochemistry demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 99%, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 99% and 98%, respectively. None of the 112 samples of nonneoplastic prostatic tissue was rearranged by FISH or showed any ERG expression. In conclusion, ERG detection by immunohistochemistry in prostate cancer was highly predictive of ERG rearrangement as assessed by FISH in a large cohort of prostatectomy patients. Given the high yield and the easier task of performing immunohistochemistry vs. FISH, ERG assessment by immunohistochemistry may be useful for characterizing ERG status in prostate cancer.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Sara Moscovita Falzarano, Ming Zhou, Paula Carver, Kelly Simmerman, Huiying He & Cristina Magi-Galluzzi

  2. Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Ming Zhou & Cristina Magi-Galluzzi

  3. Department of Pathology, Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, Japan

    Toyonori Tsuzuki

  4. Department of Pathology and Human Oncology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Sara Moscovita Falzarano

  5. Department of Anatomic Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, L25, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Cristina Magi-Galluzzi

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  1. Sara Moscovita Falzarano
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  2. Ming Zhou
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  3. Paula Carver
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  4. Toyonori Tsuzuki
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  7. Cristina Magi-Galluzzi
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Correspondence to Cristina Magi-Galluzzi.

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Falzarano, S.M., Zhou, M., Carver, P. et al. ERG gene rearrangement status in prostate cancer detected by immunohistochemistry. Virchows Arch 459, 441–447 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-011-1128-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-011-1128-4

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