ERG

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block or cell block, or 1 unstained charged slide for each test requested plus 3-4 additional unstained slides cut at 4 microns. Adequate space on each slide for control tissue is required.

ERG, which belongs to the ETS transcription factor gene family, is located on chromosome 21q22.3. ERG expression in adult tissue is limited to endothelial cells and to a subset of bone marrow hematopoietic precursors, and ERG is found to be a highly sensitive and specific marker for vascular differentiation. In addition, ERG gene translocation is identified in a subset (40-50%) of prostatic adenocarcinoma, most commonly with TMPRSS2-ERG fusion. As such, among carcinomas, ERG expression is highly restricted to this subset of prostate cancer.