Fig. 1
From: Oncogenic fusion proteins adopt the insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway
Juxtaposition of TMPRSS2 to ERG genes in prostate cancer leads to oncogene ERG overexpression. Gene fusion of the 5′ untranslated region of the TMPRSS2 gene to the ERG or ETV1 genes in prostate cancer is recognized as one of the most common rearrangements in oncology. In benign cells not expressing the translocation product, androgens (acting via the androgen receptor, AR) stimulate TMPRSS2 gene transcription. ERG does not seem to undergo enhanced transcription in non-malignant cells. On the other hand, in prostate epithelial cells expressing the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion protein, AR promotes transcription of the ERG oncogene by virtue of its fusion to the androgen sensitive TMPRSS2 promoter