Gene Fusion Subtypes In Prostate Carcinoma Have Clinical Implications

Building on an earlier study
that used Oncomine(TM) to identify ETS-fusion proteins in prostate cancer
(Science, Oct 28 2005), Tomlins et al. today report the identification of
four additional classes of ETS rearrangements in prostate cancer, each of
which activates ETV1 by a different genetic mechanism (Nature, Aug 2 2007).


Tomlins et al. queried the Oncomine database to determine the tissue
specificity of three of the new fusion gene partners, demonstrating that
two new partners are prostate cancer specific while the third partner is a
generally over-expressed 'house-keeping' gene. In addition, Oncomine
Concepts Map was applied to test for similarities between the set of genes
regulated by ETV1 with sets of genes related to other biological concepts.
This analysis revealed a clear association between ETV1 activation and
cellular invasion, a hallmark of cancer.



Oncomine, a dynamic repository that combines rich data, sophisticated
analysis, and responsive user interface, empowers oncology research by
bringing data analysis tools to a large cancer gene expression database,
which includes data from 20,000+ microarray experiments curated from 300+
independent studies. Oncomine Concepts Map, an extension of Oncomine, is a
compilation of nearly 8,000 Oncomine cancer gene signatures together with
11,500 gene, protein, drug, and pathway signatures collected from the
literature and other public sources.



"This study marks an important advance in our understanding of the
molecular basis of prostate cancer. Oncomine again proved invaluable in
examining the expression of genes in cancer, and in this case aided in the
characterization of new sub-types of prostate cancer," said Dan Rhodes,
Ph.D., co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Compendia Bioscience. "The
authors went on to show that one of the new subtypes is unlikely to respond
to conventional anti-androgen therapy, and another may be adversely
affected by standard therapies. This strongly suggests that using this type
of molecular information to distinguish patient populations will have
important clinical implications."



About Compendia Bioscience, Inc.



Compendia Bioscience is dedicated to harnessing the global collection
of high throughput molecular data to provide researchers with the data and
analysis tools necessary to validate biomarker and gene target discoveries,
better understand mechanisms of disease, and optimize clinical outcomes.



About Oncomine(TM)



Oncomine(TM) combines a rapidly growing compendium of 20,000+ cancer
transcriptome profiles with a sophisticated analysis engine and a powerful
web application for data mining and visualization. Oncomine facilitates
rapid and reliable biomarker and therapeutic target discovery, validation,
and prioritization.



About Oncomine(TM) Concepts Map



Oncomine Concepts Map is licensed to commercial users as part of the
Oncomine Concepts Edition and the Oncomine Enterprise Edition. Visit
compendiabio for more information. An academic preview
edition is available to academic and non-profit researchers at
oncomine.


Compendia Bioscience, Inc.

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