Molecular characterization of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in the NCI-H660 prostate cancer cell line: a new perspective for an old model.

TitleMolecular characterization of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in the NCI-H660 prostate cancer cell line: a new perspective for an old model.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
AuthorsMertz KD, Setlur SR, Dhanasekaran SM, Demichelis F, Perner S, Tomlins S, Tchinda J, Laxman B, Vessella RL, Beroukhim R, Lee C, Chinnaiyan AM, Rubin MA
JournalNeoplasia
Volume9
Issue3
Pagination200-6
Date Published2007 Mar
ISSN1476-5586
KeywordsCell Line, Tumor, DNA-Binding Proteins, Gene Fusion, Gene Rearrangement, Humans, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prostatic Neoplasms, Serine Endopeptidases, Trans-Activators
Abstract

Recent studies have established that a significant fraction of prostate cancers harbor a signature gene fusion between the 5' region of androgen-regulated TMPRSS2 and an ETS family transcription factor, most commonly ERG. Studies on the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of this important chromosomal rearrangement are currently limited to the VCaP cell line derived from a vertebral bone metastasis of a hormone-refractory prostate tumor. Here we report on the NCI-H660 cell line, derived from a metastatic site of an extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma arising from the prostate. NCI-H660 harbors TMPRSS2-ERG fusion with a homozygous intronic deletion between TMPRSS2 and ERG. We demonstrate this by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, a two-stage dual-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay testing for TMPRSS2 and ERG break-aparts, and single-nucleotide polymorphism oligonucleotide arrays. The deletion is consistent with the common intronic deletion found on chromosome 21q22.2-3 in human prostate cancer samples. We demonstrate the physical juxtaposition of TMPRSS2 and ERG on the DNA level by fiber FISH. The androgen receptor-negative NCI-H660 cell line expresses ERG in an androgen-independent fashion. This in vitro model system has the potential to provide important pathobiologic insights into TMPRSS2-ERG fusion prostate cancer.

Alternate JournalNeoplasia
PubMed ID17401460
PubMed Central IDPMC1838578
Grant ListNCI P50 CA090381 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
NCI P50 CA69568 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01AG21404 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States