Oncogenic gene fusions in nonneoplastic precursors as evidence that bacterial infection can initiate prostate cancer
Abstract
Prostate infections and inflammation are potential initiating factors in prostate cancer development. Here, we investigated whether bacterial infections are associated with the presence of the most common prostate cancer oncogenic gene fusion, TMPRSS2:ERG, in early precursor lesions. We provide evidence that TMPRSS2:ERG (ERG+) gene fusions can initiate in early prostate cancer risk factor lesions, including proliferative inflammatory atrophy in the setting of prostate infection. We further demonstrate that these infection-associated ERG+ precursor lesions are transitioning to early invasive cancer. Overall, we provide evidence that, in at least a subset of cases, infection-induced TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusions are an early alteration in the carcinogenic process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.2018976118
Entities
People
- Alan K Meeker
- Angelo M De Marzo
- Büşra Özbek
- Christopher M Heaphy
- Eva Shrestha
- Janielle P Maynard
- Jonathan Coulter
- Karen S Sfanos
- Luke Mummert
- Megan M. Hess
- Michael C. Haffner
- Patrick C. Walsh
- Sarah E. Ernst
- William Guzman
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Johns Hopkins University
- National Cancer Institute
- Prevent Cancer Foundation
- Prostate Cancer Foundation
- United States Department of Defense