In both the TCGA cases and plasma samples, GISTIC2.0 (genomic identification of significant targets in cancer)15 confirmed established prostate cancer SCNAs9, 16, such as the significant gain of 3q and 8q, and the significant loss of chromosomes 8p, 13q, 10q23.31 (harbouring PTEN), 17p13.1 (TP53 locus) and the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion associated deletion on chromosome 21q22.3 (ref. 17; Supplementary Fig. 2; Supplementary Data 1). Here, ERG is linked to cancer.