In an effort to better characterise the molecular implications of TMPRSS2–ERG fusions in prostate cancer and to identify other genetic prognostic markers, we have utilised RNA extracted from radical prostatectomy specimens in a prospective cohort previously characterised for TMPRSS2–ERG T1/E4 fusion transcript expression by qualitative PCR (Nam et al, 2007). The gene discussed is ERG; the disease is Familial prostate cancer.