Prevalência das Expressões de ERG e PTEN em adenocarcinomas prostáticos

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common neoplasms in men around the world. Current tools available such as serum PSA, Gleason score and staging are not sufficient for accurate patient stratification. The TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and loss of PTEN are two frequent events in CP. Their evaluations may be important in the management of the disease because they are potential prognostic factors and possible therapeutic targets. A cohort of 119 patients from a part of the Brazilian northeast, submitted to radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate, was selected and submitted to immunohistochemical evaluation for ERG and PTEN, with results associated with clinical-pathological characteristics. ERG expression was observed in 41% (48/117) of the samples and loss of PTEN in 38% (40/105), and an enrichment of loss of PTEN in the positive ERG group was observed. The association between ERG expression and Gleason score ≤ 6 (p = 0.0316) and lower prostatic weights (p = 0.0007) were observed. PTEN alone showed only tendency to association with percentage tumor volume (p = 0.0659), lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.0710) and staging (p = 0.0773). Overall, the ERG / PTEN profile was associated with Gleason scores (p = 0.0131) and prognostic groups (p = 0.0369), with ERG + / PTEN + group associated with Gleason scores ≤ 6 / prognostic group 1. In conclusion, the determination of the molecular status of PC associated with knowledge of the disease in distinct populations may help in risk stratification, leading to more particular therapeutic decisions and avoiding the adverse effects of overtreatment as well as the benefit of developing target drugs.