Molecular characterization of fusion transcripts in prostate cancer patients: A tool having diagnostic implications in Pakistan

摘要

Substantial fraction of information has been added with reference to fusion transcripts in hematological malignancies. However these fusion transcripts have been characterized in epithelial cells of prostate and are documented to gear up the process of neoplasia. TMPRSS2-ERG and related transcripts are key offenders in the subversion of core biological systems driving oncogenic transformation. In an RT PCR based study, 90 samples of tissue specimen of prostate cancer patients and 20 “prostate cancer negative” tissue specimens from different hospitals of Lahore and Islamabad were analyzed. There was a prevalence of atleast one isoform in 65 patients. There is no pre-existing accurate and precise assay to determine or evaluate the aggressiveness of prostate cancer in Pakistan. This study underscores that prostate cancer tissue specimen harbor hormonally regulated TMPRSS2-ERG and NDRG1-ERG fusions. This study represents a different approach in the clinical management of prostate cancer in Pakistan. It has to be included in diagnosis and prognosis to improve the treatment of prostate cancer. It seems pragmatic that PSA based evaluations do not guarantee a proper and scrutinized analysis of prostate cancer patients.