The Ets1 transcription factor is a member of the Ets gene family and is highly conserved throughout evolution. Ets1 is known to regulate a number of important biological processes in normal cells and in tumors. In particular, Ets1 has been associated with regulation of immune cell function and with an aggressive behavior in tumors that express it at high levels. Here we review and summarize the general features of Ets1 and describe its roles in immunity and autoimmunity, with a focus on its roles in B lymphocytes. We also review evidence that suggests that Ets1 may play a role in malignant transformation of hematopoietic malignancies including B cell malignancies.

The ETS family of transcription factors is known to play important roles in various biological processes such as development, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, tissue remodeling, invasion and angiogenesis in various cell types including B cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts as well as diverse neoplastic cells. In prostate cancer, recurrent gene fusions involving members of the ETS family are frequently reported. ETS-1, the prototype of the ETS family, is expressed in different cell types and is known to play various roles during both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we focus on studies investigating the role of ETS-1 in prostate cancer.