The Association of ERG and c-erbB2 Expressions With Gleason Scoring in Adenocarcinomas of the Prostate

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to determine erythroblast transformation-specific-related gene (ERG) and c-erbB2 expression in patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate and to investigate the association of these proteins with tumor growth and/or Gleason score, which is the main prognostic marker in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radical prostatectomy materials of 59 patients with acinar adenocarcinoma were included in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis for ERG and c-erbB2 was performed. The association of ERG and c-erbB2 expressions with International Society of Urologic Pathologists (ISUP) grade, tumor volume and patient age was investigated. RESULTS: ISUP grade was 1 (equivalent to a Gleason score of 6) in 23 tumors while the rest of the cases were Gleason score >6 tumors. ERG expression was detected in 37.5% of the cases. None of the cases had c-erbB2 expression. There was no significant difference in ERG staining between the low-risk (ISUP 1) and high-risk (ISUP >1) groups (p=0.602). Evaluation of all ISUP groups with the Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant difference across the groups in terms of ERG expression (p=0.374). CONCLUSION: The present study reflects the ERG expression rate (37.5%) in patients with carcinoma of the prostate in Turkey. Our findings support that ERG overexpression is involved in the pathogenesis but has no association with histological grade in prostate carcinoma.