ETS Transcription Factors in the Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

ETS factors are involved in cancer progression through transcriptional regulation of factors mediating cell cycle, cell growth, apoptosis, cell adhesion and migration. The biological processes regulated by ETS factors are important not only in tumor cells, but also in the surrounding cells comprising the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, ETS factors can serve as transcriptional activators and repressors to regulate gene expression in a cell context-specific fashion. Here we discuss recent advances in which the regulatory roles of ETS factors in stromal cells are critical during both development and cancer. These new findings uncover the importance of ETS signaling in the stromal compartment of tumors and shed light on new potential mechanisms of ETS factors.