TMPRSS2:ERG promotes invasiveness and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer model

Recently, a frequent chromosomal aberration fusing Androgen regulated TMPRSS2 promoter and the ERG gene (T/ERG) was discovered in prostate cancer. Several studies demonstrated cooperation between the T/ERG and other defective pathways in cancer progression however, the biological mechanism by which the T/ERG operates is yet to be determined. Using immortalized prostate epithelial cells (EP) model we were able to show that EP with the combination of androgen receptor(AR) and T/ERG(EP-AR T/ERG cell line) demonstrate an Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) manifested by a mesenchyme-like morphological appearance and behavior.

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Leshem O, Madar S, Kogan-Sakin I, Kamer I, Goldstein I, Brosh R, Cohen Y, Jacob-Hirsch J, Ehrlich M, Ben-Sasson S, Goldfinger N, Loewenthal R, Gazit E, Rotter V, Berger R