Purpose Fusion of the TMPRSS2 prostate-specific gene with the ERG transcription factor is a putatively oncogenic gene rearrangement that is commonly found in prostate cancer tissue from men undergoing prostatectomy. However, the prevalence of the fusion was less common in TURP samples from a Swedish cohort of incidental prostate cancer patients followed by watchful waiting, raising the question as to whether the high prevalence in prostatectomy specimens reflects selection bias. We sought to determine the prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion among PSA-screened men undergoing prostate biopsy in the United States. Experimental design We studied 140 prostate biopsies from the same number of patients for TMPRSS2-ERG fusion status with a FISH assay. 134 (100 cancer and 34 benign) were assessable. Results ERG gene rearrangement was detected in 46% prostate biopsies that were found to have prostate cancer and in 0% of benign prostate biopsies (p<0.0001). Evaluation of morphological features showed that cribriform growth, blue-tinged mucin, macronucleoli and collagenous micronodules were significantly more frequent in TMPRSS2-ERG fusion positive prostate cancer biopsies than gene fusion negative prostate cancer biopsies (p≤0.04). No significant association with Gleason score was detected. In addition, non-Caucasian patients were less likely to have positive fusion status (p=0.02). Conclusions This is the first prospective North American multi-center study to characterize the TMPRSS2-ERG prostate cancer prevalence in a cohort of patients undergoing needle biopsy irrespective of whether or not they subsequently undergo prostatectomy. Our results show that this gene rearrangement is common among North American men who have prostate cancer on biopsy, is absent in benign prostate biopsy, and is associated with specific morphological features. These findings indicate a need for prospective studies to evaluate the relationship of TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement with clinical course of screening-detected prostate cancer in North American men, and development of non-invasive screening tests to detect TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangement.

BACKGROUND-Systematic analysis of the influence of diet on the initiation and progression of prostate cancer is often difficult in human populations, for which dietary variables overlap a diversity of genetic backgrounds and social behaviors. Animal models that emulate human prostate cancer allow experimental analysis of the mechanisms of action of nutritional agents that show anti-prostate cancer activity.

Several cell functions related to growth and survival regulation have been attributed specifically to the membrane form of heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (proHB-EGF), rather than to the diffusible, processed HB-EGF isoform. These findings suggest the existence of a functional binding partner specifically for the membrane form of the growth factor. In this study we have identified the prosurvival cochaperone, BAG-1, as a protein that interacts with the cytoplasmic tail domain of proHB-EGF. Interaction between BAG-1 and the 24-amino acid proHB-EGF cytoplasmic tail was initially identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen and was confirmed in mammalian cells. The proHB-EGF tail bound BAG-1 in an hsp70-independent manner and within a 97-amino acid segment that includes the ubiquitin homology domain in BAG-1 but does not include the hsp70 binding site. Effects of BAG-1 and proHB-EGF co-expression were demonstrated in cell adhesion and cell survival assays and in quantitative assays of regulated secretion of soluble HB-EGF. Because the BAG-1 binding site is not present on the mature, diffusible form of the growth factor, these findings suggest a new mechanism by which proHB-EGF, in isolation from the diffusible form, can mediate cell signaling events. In addition, because effects of BAG-1 on regulated secretion of soluble HB-EGF were also identified, this interaction has the potential to alter the signaling capabilities of both the membrane-anchored and the diffusible forms of the growth factor.

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The need to apply modern technologies to analyze DNA from diverse clinical samples often stumbles on suboptimal sample quality. We developed a simple approach to assess DNA fragmentation in minute clinical samples of widely different origin and the likelihood of success of degradation-tolerant whole genome amplification (restriction and circularization-aided rolling circle amplification, RCA-RCA) and subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A multiplex PCR amplification of four glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase amplicons of varying sizes was performed using genomic DNA from clinical samples, followed by size discrimination on agarose gel or fluorescent denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC). RCA-RCA followed by realtime PCR was also performed, for correlation. Even minimal quantities of longer PCR fragments (ϳ300 to 400 bp), visible via high-sensitivity fluorescent dHPLC or agarose gel, were essential for the success of RCA-RCA and subsequent PCR-based assays. dHPLC gave a more accurate correlation between DNA fragmentation and sample quality than agarose gel electrophoresis. Multiplex-PCR-dHPLC predicted correctly the likelihood of assay success in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples fixed under controlled conditions and of different ages, in laser capture microdissection samples, in tissue print micropeels, and plasma-circulating DNA. Estimates of the percent information retained relative to snap-frozen DNA are derived for real-time PCR analysis. The assay is rapid and convenient and can be used widely to characterize DNA from any clinical sample of unknown quality. (J Mol

Molecular profiling of human biopsies and surgical specimens is frequently complicated by their inherent biological heterogeneity and by the need to conserve tissue for clinical diagnosis. We have developed a set of novel 'tissue print' and 'print-phoresis' technologies to facilitate tissue and tumor-marker profiling under these circumstances. Tissue printing transfers cells and extracellular matrix components from a tissue surface onto nitrocellulose membranes, generating a two-dimensional anatomical image on which molecular markers can be visualized by specific protein and RNA- and DNA-detection techniques. Print-phoresis is a complementary new electrophoresis method in which thin strips from the print are subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, providing a straightforward interface between the tissue-print image and gel-based proteomic techniques. Here we have utilized these technologies to identify and characterize markers of tumor invasion of the prostate capsule, an event generally not apparent to the naked eye that may result in tumor at the surgical margins ('positive margins'). We have also shown that tissue-print technologies can provide a general platform for the generation of marker maps that can be superimposed directly onto histopathological and radiological images, permitting molecular identification and classification of individual malignant lesions.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and MR spectroscopy can probe a variety of physiological (e.g. blood vessel permeability) and metabolic characteristics of prostate cancer. However, little is known about the changes in gene expression that underlie the spectral and imaging features observed in prostate cancer. Tumor induced changes in vascular permeability and angiogenesis are thought to contribute to patterns of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI images of prostate cancer even though the genetic basis of tumor vasculogenesis is complex and the specific mechanisms underlying these DCEMRI features have not yet been determined. In order to identify the changes in gene expression that correspond to MRS and DCEMRI patterns in human prostate cancers, we have utilized tissue print micropeel techniques to generate "whole mount" molecular maps of radical prostatectomy specimens that correspond to pre-surgical MRI/MRS studies. These molecular maps include RNA expression profiles from both Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qrt-PCR) analysis, as well as immunohistochemical studies. Using these methods on patients with prostate cancer, we found robust over-expression of choline kinase a in the majority of primary tumors. We also observed overexpression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), a newly identified angiogenic factor, in a subset of DCEMRI positive prostate cancers. These studies set the stage for establishing MRI/MRS parameters as validated biomarkers for human prostate cancer. Keywords MRI; prostate; gene expressionThe wide range of biologic activity exhibited by prostate cancer creates dilemmas for the management of individuals with known or suspected disease. Prostate cancer is one of the few cancers that can grow so slowly that it never threatens the lives of many patients. Yet, in some patients, the disease spreads beyond the gland, and is incurable. This characteristic of prostate cancer is reflected in the fact that, although one out of six men will develop prostate cancer, only one out of thirty five will die of the disease [1].Corresponding Author: Robert E. Lenkinski, Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston MA, USA 02215, Tel: 617-667-0274, Fax: 617-667-7917, Email: rlenkins@bidmc.harvard Prostate cancer patients are being identified at an earlier and potentially treatable stage because of the adoption of screening using serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy [2][3][4][5][6]. A major challenge to the medical community is to characterize the behavior of an individual patient's prostate cancer and to select the appropriate level of management while preserving the patient's quality of life. Current pre-treatment paradigms have significant limitations, both individually and collectively. One of the most widely used pretreatment paradigms is based on the Partin tables [7,8], which are derived from a combination of demographic factors, as well as the Gleason score from biopsy sa...

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