Clinical implications of expression of ETS-1 related to angiogenesis in uterine cervical cancers.
BACKGROUND
Angiogenesis is essential for development, growth and advancement of solid tumors. ETS-1 has been recognized as a candidate for tumor angiogenic transcription factor. This prompted us to study the clinical implications of ETS-1-related angiogenesis in uterine cervical cancers.


METHODS
Fifty patients underwent curative resection for uterine cervical cancers. The patients' prognoses were analyzed with a 24-month survival rate. In the tissue of 60 uterine cervical cancers, the levels of ets-1 mRNA, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and interleukin (IL)-8 were determined by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using recombinant RNA and enzyme immunoassay, and the localization and counts of microvessels were determined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between microvessel counts and ets-1 gene expression levels in uterine cervical cancers. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the localization of ETS-1 was similar to that of vascular endothelial cells. The level of ets-1 mRNA correlated with the levels of PD-ECGF and IL-8 among angiogenic factors. Furthermore, the prognosis of the 25 patients with high ets-1 mRNA expression in uterine cervical cancers was extremely poor, while the 24-month survival rate of the other 25 patients with low ets-1 mRNA expression was 92%.


CONCLUSIONS
ETS-1 might be a prognostic indicator as an angiogenic mediator in uterine cervical cancers.
Fujimoto
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan. jf@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Aoki
I
I
Toyoki
H
H
Khatun
S
S
Tamaya
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013534:Survival; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C494041:ETS1 protein, human; D050784:Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors