Shancheng Ren

About Shancheng Ren

The role of recurrent gene fusion SDK1-AMACR in prostate cancer

Gene fusions are the erroneous juxtaposition of two genes that do not normally lie next to each other on the genome. As a result of this abnormal placement of two genes, their expression is altered and this may lead to the development and progression of cancer. The TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions are a hallmark of prostate cancer (PCa), found in ~50% of Caucasian patients. Recent studies have shown that these TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusions occur at a much lower frequency of ~15-20% in prostate cancer patients in China. The underlying genetic heterogeneity/differences among different ethnic populations may explain this observation.

Dr. Shancheng Ren has identified a novel gene fusion in prostate cancer patients in China that results in to the juxtaposition of the SDK1 and the AMACR genes. Dr. Ren proposes to study the relative prevalence and clinical significance of this SDK1-AMACR gene fusion in Chinese PCa patients. These studies will therefore help in the molecular subtyping of Chinese PCa patients in terms of their clinico-pathologic features, clinical outcome as well as response to therapy.

Dr. Ren also proposes to investigate the SDK1-AMACR gene fusion as a novel, non-invasive marker for the detection of prostate cancer in Chinese patients. He will further evaluate the role of this gene fusion in prostate cancer initiation and progression. These studies will lay the foundation for the potential development of the SDK1-AMACR gene fusion as a therapeutic target.