Abstract
BackgroundETS-related gene (ERG) oncogenic activation is the most common genomic alteration in prostate cancer (CaP) although it occurs less frequently in African American (AA) versus Caucasian (CA) patients, and the potential role of ERG as a prognostic marker has not been confirmed. ObjectiveThis study was conducted to confirm strong racial variation in the prevalence of ERG oncoprotein expression and to examine ERG oncoprotein expression, race, and body mass index as independent and joint predictors of CaP biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP). Design, setting, and participantsA retrospective cohort study of CA and AA CaP patients enrolled at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, who donated clinically annotated, whole-mounted, prostatectomy specimens between 1994 and 2014 following RP, was conducted. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisKaplan–Meier (KM) estimation curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine time to BCR as a function of ERG status, patient race, and obesity. Results and limitationsAmong 930 eligible patients (36.1% AA and 63.9% CA), with 155 (16.7%) BCR events and a median follow-up time of 5.1 yr, ERG oncoprotein expression was significantly less prevalent in index tumors of AA versus CA patients (23.2% vs 49.3%; p<0.0001). KM curves showed significantly poorer BCR-free survival for CA patients with ERG-negative index tumors but not for AA patients. Race-stratified multivariable analyses revealed a significant association between ERG-negative index tumors and poorer BCR-free survival among CA patients (hazards ratio=1.67, confidence interval=1.07, 2.61; p=0.024). Less heterogeneity in ERG expression among AA patients may reduce the ability to show its association with BCR. ConclusionsStriking racial variation in ERG oncoprotein expression was confirmed. A novel observation was the importance of index tumor ERG-negative status in predicting CaP progression for CA patients. Patient summaryETS-related gene (ERG) typing of tumors may be useful in prognosticating prostate cancer aggressiveness.
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