ETS transcription factors: possible targets for cancer therapy

Abstract

Ets family (ETS) transcription factors, characterized by an evolutionally conserved Ets domain, play important roles in cell development, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, apoptosis and tissue remodeling. Most of them are downstream nuclear targets of Ras-MAP kinase signaling, and the deregulation of ETS genes results in the malignant transformation of cells. Several ETS genes are rearranged in human leukemia and Ewing tumors to produce chimeric oncoproteins. Furthermore, the aberrant expression of several ETS genes is often observed in various types of human malignant tumors. Considering that some ETS transcription factors are involved in malignant transformation and tumor progression, including invasion, metastasis and neo-angiogenesis through the activation of cancer-related genes, they could be potential molecular targets for selective cancer therapy.