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Expression of the transcription factor Ets-1 is an independent prognostic marker for relapse-free survival in breast cancer

Oncogene volume 21, pages 8506–8509 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

The transcription factor Ets-1 regulates the expression of several angiogenic and extracellular matrix remodeling factors, and might be implicated in disease progression of breast cancer. In the present study, the prognostic value of Ets-1 expression was assessed by quantitative real-time fluorescence RT–PCR in 123 sporadic primary breast cancer samples of patients with a median follow-up time of 62 months. Ets-1 expression levels correlated significantly with VEGF and PAI-1 in the same tissue. In univariate (P=0.0011) and multivariate (P=0.005) analyses, Ets-1 expression showed significant prognostic value for relapse-free survival. Ets-1 is a strong, independent predictor of poor prognosis in breast cancer. This seems – at least in part – to be attributable to its role in transcriptional regulation of factors involved in angiogenesis (VEGF), and extracellular matrix remodeling (PAI-1).

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Abbreviations

Ets:

E26 Transformation-Specific

EBS:

Ets-Binding Sequence

ECM:

Extracellular Matrix

uPA:

urokinase Plasminogen Activator

MMP:

Matrix-Metalloproteinase

RT–PCR:

Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

ER:

Estrogen Receptor

PgR:

Progesterone Receptor

EORTC:

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer

RFS:

Relapse-Free Survival

OS:

Overall Survival

VEGF:

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

PAI-1:

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1

EGF:

Epithelial Growth Factor

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Acknowledgements

The surgeons, medical oncologists and pathologists of the contributing hospitals, i.e. the University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen; Ziekenhuis Apeldoorn, Apeldoorn; Deventer Ziekenhuis, Deventer; Nieuw Spitaal, Zutphen; and Streekziekenhuis Zevenaar, Zevenaar, The Netherlands, are greatly acknowledged for their contributions to this study. Doorlène van Tienoven of the Department of Chemical Endocrinology of the University Medical Center Nijmegen is acknowledged for her excellent work with collecting and archiving the breast tumor samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Endocrinology, University Medical CenterNijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Paul N Span, Peggy Manders, Joop J Heuvel, Chris MG Thomas, Remko R Bosch & CGJ (Fred) Sweep

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Peggy Manders & Louk VAM Beex

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Chris MG Thomas

  4. Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Remko R Bosch

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  1. Paul N Span
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Correspondence to Paul N Span.

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Span, P., Manders, P., Heuvel, J. et al. Expression of the transcription factor Ets-1 is an independent prognostic marker for relapse-free survival in breast cancer. Oncogene 21, 8506–8509 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1206040

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