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 Vol.46, No.5:423-428, October 2012 |
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 Original articles
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ERG Immunohistochemistry and Clinicopathologic Characteristics in Korean Prostate Adenocarcinoma Patients
Ja Hee Suh1ㆍJeong-Whan Park1ㆍCheol Lee1ㆍKyung Chul Moon1,2
1Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 2Kidney Research Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Background : Transmembrane protease serine 2-ETS related gene (TMPRSS2-ERG) gene fusion, the most common genetic alternation in prostate cancer, is associated with protein expression of the oncogene ERG. Recently, an immunohistochemical staining method using an anti-ERG antibody was shown to have a strong correlation with altered ERG protein expression.
Methods : We analyzed a total of 303 radical prostatectomy specimens (obtained from Korean prostate cancer cases) using a constructed tissue microarray and ERG immunohistochemical staining. Thereafter, we evaluated the association between ERG expression and clinicopathological factors.
Results : The ERG-positive rate was 24.4% (74/303) and significantly higher ERG expression was observed in the subgroup with a lower Gleason score (p=0.004). Analysis of the histologic pattern of prostate adenocarcinomas revealed that tumors with discrete glandular units (Gleason pattern 3) displayed higher frequency of ERG expression (p=0.016). The ERG-positive rate was lower than that found (approximately 50%) in studies involving western populations. Other factors including age, tumor volume, initial protein-specific antigen level, a pathological stage and margin status were not significantly related with the ERG expression.
Conclusions : ERG immunohistochemical staining is significantly higher in tumors with well-formed glands and is associated with a lower Gleason score. |
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Key Words : Prostate neoplasms; ERG; Immunohistochemistry |
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