ETS gene fusions and prostate cancer

Chromosomal rearrangements are common genetic alterations in solid tumors and hematologic neoplasias. Recently, gene fusions between erythroblastosis virus E26 transforming sequence (ETS) family of transcription factors and androgen-regulated, prostate-specific TMPRSS2 gene were detected in about 50% of prostate cancers. Further studies have shown a diversity of TMPRSS2: ETS hybrid transcripts and heterogeneity of the fusion genes in multifocal prostate cancer. The role of these gene fusions in prostate carcinogenesis, the protein products associated with the variant fusion transcripts and their association with tumor morphology, stage, and clinical outcomes have also been studied. Additional data have demonstrated ETS gene fusions as a potential biomarker for diagnosing and stratifying prostate cancer patients. The following summarizes these recent advances.