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Am J Transl Res 2013;5(3):254-268
Review Article
Emergence of ETS transcription factors as diagnostic tools and
ther-apeutic targets in prostate cancer
Said Rahim, Aykut Üren
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC
Received March 21, 2013; Accepted April 5, 2013; Epub April 19, 2013; Published April 30, 2013
Abstract: The discovery of chromosomal translocations in prostate cancer has greatly enhanced our
understanding of prostate cancer biology. Genomic rearrangements involving the ETS family of transcription
factors are estimated to be present in 50-70% of prostate cancer cases. These rearrangements fuse the ETS
factors with promoters of genes that are androgen regulated. Thus, the expression of ETS factors, such as ERG,
ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5, is mediated by androgen. In-vitro and in-vivo studies suggest that overexpression of ETS
proteins increase cell proliferation and confer an invasive phenotype to prostate cancer cells. Epidemiological
studies demonstrate that ETS-fusion positive patients exhibit tumors corresponding to a more advanced disease.
The ability of ETS factors to serve as markers for screening and diagnosing prostate cancer patients is being
investigated, and the results have been largely positive to date. Additionally, ETS factors present an excellent
opportunity as therapeutic targets and several strategies have been devised to directly target ETS proteins or their
binding partners and downstream effectors. (AJTR1303007).
Keywords: Prostate cancer, chromosomal translocation, transcription factor, ETS, TMPRSS2-ERG, ETV1
Address correspondence to: Dr. Aykut Üren, Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Georgetown University Medi-cal Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA. E-mail: au26@georgetown.edu
Review Article
Emergence of ETS transcription factors as diagnostic tools and
ther-apeutic targets in prostate cancer
Said Rahim, Aykut Üren
Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC
Received March 21, 2013; Accepted April 5, 2013; Epub April 19, 2013; Published April 30, 2013
Abstract: The discovery of chromosomal translocations in prostate cancer has greatly enhanced our
understanding of prostate cancer biology. Genomic rearrangements involving the ETS family of transcription
factors are estimated to be present in 50-70% of prostate cancer cases. These rearrangements fuse the ETS
factors with promoters of genes that are androgen regulated. Thus, the expression of ETS factors, such as ERG,
ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5, is mediated by androgen. In-vitro and in-vivo studies suggest that overexpression of ETS
proteins increase cell proliferation and confer an invasive phenotype to prostate cancer cells. Epidemiological
studies demonstrate that ETS-fusion positive patients exhibit tumors corresponding to a more advanced disease.
The ability of ETS factors to serve as markers for screening and diagnosing prostate cancer patients is being
investigated, and the results have been largely positive to date. Additionally, ETS factors present an excellent
opportunity as therapeutic targets and several strategies have been devised to directly target ETS proteins or their
binding partners and downstream effectors. (AJTR1303007).
Keywords: Prostate cancer, chromosomal translocation, transcription factor, ETS, TMPRSS2-ERG, ETV1
Address correspondence to: Dr. Aykut Üren, Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Georgetown University Medi-cal Center, Washington, DC 20057, USA. E-mail: au26@georgetown.edu
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