Prostate cancer-specific alterations in erg gene expression and detection and treatment methods based on those alterations

Abstract

Alterations in ERG gene expression can be observed in patients with prostate cancer. Specific ERG isoforms are associated with, or involved in, prostate cancer. Compositions comprising these isoforms provide therapeutic benefit and can be used in methods of detecting, diagnosing, prognosing, and treating prostate cancer. These compositions provide biomarkers for detecting the expression of combinations of the PSA/KLK3, PMEPA1, NKX3.1, ODC1, AMD1 and ERG genes.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO: 46, a biologically active fragment thereof, or the complement thereof. 
     
     
         13 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating prostate cancer comprising destabilizing a prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript in prostate cancer cells. 
     
     
         22 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript comprises nucleotides 843-861 of SEQ ID NO: 46. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript comprises nucleotides 970-988 of SEQ ID NO: 46. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript comprises nucleotides 1261-1279 of SEQ ID NO: 46. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript comprises nucleotides 1398-1416 of SEQ ID NO: 46. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the prostate cancer-specific ERG gene transcript comprises nucleotides 1581-1599 of SEQ ID NO: 46. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the destabilization comprises administering an interfering RNA. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any of  claim 21 , wherein the destabilization comprises administering an antisense nucleic acid. 
     
     
         35 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An isolated nucleic acid molecule, comprising at least about 15 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 46, wherein the nucleic acid is capable of hybridizing to SEQ ID NO: 46, or the complement thereof, under conditions of high stringency but not to ERG1, ERG2, ERG3, ERG4, ERG5, ERG6, ERG7, ERG9, EPC1, EPC2, or TMPRSS2. 
     
     
         45 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 44 , wherein the nucleic acid is up to about 50 nucleotides long. 
     
     
         46 . The isolated nucleic acid of  claim 44 , wherein the conditions of high stringency comprise hybridization for 12 hours at 65° C. in 6×SSC followed by a wash in 0.1×SSC at 50° C. for 45 minutes. 
     
     
         47 - 57 . (canceled)