The prostate-specific gene, TMPRSS2 is fused with the gene for the transcription factor ERG in a large proportion of human prostate cancers. The prognostic significance of the presence of the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion product remains controversial. We examined prostate cancer specimens from 165 patients who underwent surgery for clinically localised prostate cancer between 1998 and 2006. We tested for the presence of TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion product, using RT–PCR and direct sequencing. We conducted a survival analysis to determine the prognostic significance of the presence of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene on the risk of prostate cancer recurrence, adjusting for the established prognostic factors. We discovered that the fusion gene was expressed within the prostate cancer cells in 81 of 165 (49.1%) patients. Of the 165 patients, 43 (26.1%) developed prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after a mean follow-up of 28 months. The subgroup of patients with the fusion protein had a significantly higher risk of recurrence (58.4% at 5 years) than did patients who lacked the fusion protein (8.1%, P<0.0001). In a multivariable analysis, the presence of gene fusion was the single most important prognostic factor; the adjusted hazard ratio for disease recurrence for patients with the fusion protein was 8.6 (95% CI=3.6–20.6, P<0.0001) compared to patients without the fusion protein. Among prostate cancer patients treated with surgery, the expression of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene is a strong prognostic factor and is independent of grade, stage and PSA level.

By inactivating the insulin-like growth factor receptor, IGFBP7 suppresses growth and promotes cell death.

The breast cancer-associated T2A10 clone was originally isolated from a cDNA library enriched for tumour messenger ribonucleic acids. Our survey of 125 microarrayed primary tumour tissues using affinity purified polyclonal antibodies has revealed that corresponding protein is overexpressed in invasive breast cancer and is weakly expressed in kidney and prostate tumours. Now known as RNF11, the gene encodes a RING-H2 domain and a PY motif, both of which mediate protein–protein interactions. In particular, the PPPPY sequence of RNF11 PY motif is identical to that of Smad7, which has been shown to bind to WW domains of Smurf2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of the TGFβ receptor complex. Using various mutants of RNF11 in GST pulldown and immunoprecipitation assays, we found that RNF11 interacts with Smurf2 through the PY motif, leading to ubiquitination of both proteins. Smurf2 plays an active role in the repression of TGFβ signalling, and our data indicate that overexpression of RNF11, through its interaction with Smurf2, can restore TGFβ responsiveness in transfected cells.

Accumulating evidence suggests that ubiquitination plays a role in cancer by changing the function of key cellular proteins. Previously, we isolated BCA2 gene from a library enriched for breast tumor mRNAs. The BCA2 protein is a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase and is overexpressed in human breast tumors. In order to deduce the biochemical and biological function of BCA2, we searched for BCA2-binding partners using human breast and fetal brain cDNA libraries and BacterioMatch two-hybrid system. We identified 62 interacting partners, the majority of which were found to encode ubiquitin precursor proteins including ubiquitin C and ubiquitin A-52. Using several deletion and point mutants, we found that the BCA2 zinc finger (BZF) domain at the NH₂ terminus specifically binds ubiquitin and ubiquitinated proteins. The autoubiquitination activity of BCA2, RING-H2 mutant, BZF mutant, and various lysine mutants of BCA2 were investigated. Our results indicate that the BCA2 protein is strongly ubiquitinated and no ubiquitination is detected with the BCA2 RING-H2 mutant, indicating that the RING domain is essential for autoubiquitination. Mutation of the K26 and K32 lysines in the BZF domain also abrogated autoubiquitination activity. Interestingly, mutation of the K232 and K260 lysines in and near the RING domain resulted in an increase in autoubiquitination activity. Additionally, in cellular migration assays, BCA2 mutants showed altered cell motility compared with wild-type BCA2. On the basis of these findings, we propose that BCA2 might be an important factor regulating breast cancer cell migration/metastasis. We put forward a novel model for BCA2 E3 ligase–mediated cell regulation. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(9):1385–96)