The ZytoLight ® SPEC ETV1/CEN 7 Dual Color Probe is designed for the detection of ETV1 gene amplifications observed e.g. in melanoma. The ETV1 (ETS translocation variant 1, a.k.a. ER81) gene is located on chromosome 7p21.2 and encodes an ETS (E26 transformation-specific) transcription factor. The gene was first identified as a fusion partner of the EWS gene in Ewing’s sarcoma. Moreover, it was frequently found to be fused to TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease, serine 2) in prostate cancer. ETV1 amplification or copy number gain of chromosome 7p was detected in melanoma, lung adenocarcinoma of never smokers, and pleomorphic liposarcoma. In melanoma, more than 40% of the cases show amplification or copy number gain of the ETV1 locus. As ectopic ETV1 overexpression in the context of aberrant MAP kinase pathway activation was found to transform immortalized human melanocytes, it was suggested that ETV1 acts as a melanoma oncogene
