Reduced CD147 expression is linked to ERG fusion-positive prostate cancers but lacks substantial impact on PSA recurrence in patients treated by radical prostatectomy

• CD147 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray containing 11,152 prostate cancer specimens.
• CD147 expression was strong in benign prostatic glands and often reduced in prostate cancers.
• Reduced CD147 staining was strongly associated with TMPRSS2-ERG-rearrangement.
• Despite a weak association with PSA recurrence, CD147 cannot be considered a relevant prognostic biomarker.

The extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer CD147 has been suggested as a prognostic marker in prostate cancer. CD147 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray containing 11,152 prostate cancer specimens. Results were compared to tumor phenotype, biochemical recurrence, ERG status and deletions on PTEN, 3p13, 6q15 and 5q21. CD147 expression was strong in benign prostatic glands and often reduced in prostate cancers. CD147 immunostaining was found in 71.7% of 7628 interpretable cases. CD147 staining was considered strong in 34.6%, moderate in 24.3% and weak in 12.8% of cancers while 28.3% did not show any CD147 reactivity. Reduced CD147 staining was strongly associated with both TMPRSS2-ERG-rearrangement and ERG expression (p < 0.0001 each). Within the subgroups of ERG positive and negative cancers, deletions of PTEN, 3p13, 6q15 and 5q21 were unrelated to the CD147 expression status. Decreased CD147 expression was significantly linked to high preoperative PSA values, high Gleason grade, advanced tumor stage (p < 0.0001 each), and positive lymph node involvement (p = 0.0026) in all cancers. There was a marginal, but statistically significant, association of reduced CD147 expression with early biochemical recurrence (p = 0.0296). The significant reduction of CD147 expression in ERG positive prostate cancer provides further evidence for marked biological differences between “fusion type” and “non-fusion type” prostate cancer. Despite a weak association with PSA recurrence, CD147 cannot be considered a relevant prognostic biomarker.