Annals of Tropical Pathology
ETS-related gene Immunohistochemical Expression as a Surrogate for TMPRSS2::ERG Fusion in Nigerian Prostate Adenocarcinoma: Clinicopathological Correlates
By Patrick Akintunde Akintola, Oluwarotimi Oloruntele Bamiro, Adesoji Ebenezer Adetona and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
The Transmembrane serine protease 2- ETS-related gene (TMPRSS2::ERG) fusion is the most frequent genomic alteration in prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) and can be reliably detected using ERG immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a surrogate marker. Data regarding ERG expression in indigenous African populations are scarce. This study evaluated ERG immunohistochemical expression and its clinicopathological correlates in Nigerian patients with prostate adenocarcinoma.
Methods
This retrospective, cross sectional analytical study included 92 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria, between January 2008 and December 2019. Clinicopathological data, including age, presenting symptoms, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, tumour grade, and Gleason score, were retrieved from patients' records. ERG immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections using a rabbit monoclonal anti-ERG antibody. ERG expression was evaluated semi-quantitatively and used as a surrogate marker for TMPRSS2::ERG fusion status. Associations between ERG expression and clinico- pathological variables were analysed using appropriate statistical tests.