Publications

Publications

The prognostic significance of combined ERG and androgen receptor expression in patients with prostate cancer managed by androgen deprivation therapy

By:
Contributors: Bryan Donnelly, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Tarek Bismar Research Group

Cancer Biol Ther. 2014 Sep;15(9):1120-8. doi: 10.4161/cbt.29689. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Huang KC1, Alshalalfa M2, Hegazy SA3, Dolph M1, Donnelly B4, Bismar TA5.

 

Abstract

ERG and androgen receptor (AR) are known to function cooperatively in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. However, the prognostic value of combined ERG and AR expression and potential pathways are not well characterized. We assessed ERG and AR protein expression by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 312 men with PCa diagnosed by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Patients were divided into those with no prior hormonal treatment (designated as PCa/AdvPCa) vs. those with castrate-resistant PCa (CRPC) undergoing channel TURP to relieve obstructive symptoms. The expression status was correlated with various clinical-pathological parameters. The Swedish watchful-waiting cohort was used for validation and characterization of potential gene signatures associated with ERG and AR.   Patients with combined ERG-positive/AR high expression profile demonstrated higher rates of PCa-specific mortality (PCSM) compared with patients with ERG-negative/AR low in patients with no prior treatment (n = 90, P = 0.032), but this was attenuated in the overall cohort which included the CRPC subgroup (n = 125, P = 0.096). The prognostic significance to PCSM was validated in the Swedish watchful waiting cohort in univariate (HR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.9-5.6, P = 4.25E-5) and multivariate analysis (HR: 2; 95% CI: 0.97-4.1, P = 0.057), which included Gleason score. ERG/AR overexpression status characterized 152 genes signatures including WNT, PI3K/AKT and chemokine signaling pathways known to be deregulated in PCa. In conclusion, combined ERG/AR overexpression signifies a class of patients at highest-risk of PCSM with specific key genetic alteration likely responsible for disease progression. The prognostic value of combined ERG/AR overexpression and its associated genes should be further investigated as potential prognostic and therapeutic targets in prostate cancer progression.

PubMed

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Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Lian Willetts shines light on the frontiers of discovery

Dr. Lian Willetts was awarded 2nd place in the Falling Walls Lab Finale in Berlin representing Dr. John Lewis’ lab by presenting: “Breaking the Walls of Prostate Cancer Metastasis”

Lab Falling Walls is an international competition that challenges graduate students to showcase how their research is redefining their respective fields and breaking down the walls to the next major scientific breakthrough. The University of Alberta is one of 20 approved international events, and the Sept. 30 event saw 16 outstanding examples of graduate research. Dr. Willetts was awarded 1st place during this night.

International Labs and the Finale in Berlin

Falling Walls Lab is a global scale event that takes place in different vibrant cities around the world throughout the year. The Falling Walls Lab Finale is held each year in Berlin on 8 November. The Finale gathers 100 participants, among them all winners of the international Labs.

- Catalina Vasquez