ERG-Mediated Cell Invasion: A Link between Development and Tumorigenesis

Abstract

The transcription factor ERG is important during development for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, blood vessel integrity, and maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells. In human adults, ERG is only expressed in endothelial cells and performs similar roles as in development to mediate blood vessel formation. However, aberrant overexpression of ERG in the adult contributes to diseases like prostate cancer, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of ERG in tumorigenesis remain largely unclear. Studies of ERG-positive prostate cancers have shown that ERG promotes cell invasion and metastasis and contributes to poor patient prognosis. Together, these studies reveal ERG-mediated cell invasion as a potential link between normal ERG function in development and oncogenic ERG function in prostate cancer.