MiRNA network associated with the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer invasion

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a widespread global malignancy and responsible for the significant number of deaths. TMPRSS2-ERG fusion, which arises in approximately 50% of prostate cancer, leads to overexpression of the ERG gene and advances migration and invasion capacity of prostate cancer cells. In prostate cancer with TMPRSS2-ERG fusion, determination of miRNA expression profile and elucidation of the underlying mechanism is important. Accordingly, here we aimed to decipher miRNAs that are related with the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion in prostate cancer using TCGA prostate cancer findings. Firstly, TCGA prostate cancer data sets were obtained and samples with unknown ERG fusion status and clinical data were excluded from the study. Patients with available mRNA and miRNA expression data were included in the study. As a result, in patients with TMPRSS2-ERG fusions, mRNA levels of PLAT, NDRG1 and SPINT1 were shown to be elevated whereas expression levels of CXCR4 and HPGD genes were shown to be reduced. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and miR-221, miR-196a, and a significant positive correlation between TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and miR-200c and miR-196b. Also, there was a significant negative correlation between HPGD and miR-21, and MYC and miR-145, whereas there was a significant positive correlation between CXCR4 and miR-199a, and HPGD and miR-146b. Consequently, findings of the present study strongly indicated that TMPRSS2-ERG fusion alters miRNA expression profile in prostate cancer and miRNAs associated with the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion can be interesting candidates for future targeted prostate cancer therapies.