The TMPRSS2/ERG Deletion/Breakapart probe is a three colour probe that consists of green probes and red probes positioned on each side of the TMPRSS2 gene, as well as three blue probes that cover the centromeric region of the ERG gene, up to D21S1439 marker.
Recent studies suggest that over 50% of prostate tumours may carry a chromosomal rearrangement of chromosome 21q221. The genes involved are the androgen-inducible TMPRSS2 (Transmembrane protease, serine 2 (21q22.3)) and an ETS (E-twenty six) family transcription factor, ERG (v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene like (21q22.2))1.
An apparent intrachromosomal deletion of 3Mb on chromosome 21 fuses TMPRSS2 to ERG. The rearrangement places ERG under the androgen-regulated transcriptional control of TMPRSS22. This fusion is associated with disease progression and the rearrangement in prostate cancer may account for molecular and clinical heterogeneity3. This represents an important subclassification of prostate cancer from a biological and a clinical standpoint3.
It was very important for us to have more consistent results with our probes — easy-to-read bright signals and a range of vial sizes, which is much more cost-effective. It also was critical to upgrade our pretreatment kit to expedite the analysis of FFPE samples. We can now complete the process in about 90 minutes.
Janet Cowan, PhD
Director of the Cytogenetics Laboratory, Tufts Medical Center, USA
Visit USA site
Visit Canada site
