Ets-1 expression in vascular endothelial cells as an angiogenic and prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma

We investigated Ets-1 expression and its influence on angiogenesis and survival using immunohistochemistry of surgical specimens from 95 patients of colorectal cancer. The expression rate of Ets-1 was 48.4% of all cases in cancer cells, 65.3% in endothelial cells, and 28.4% in stromal cells. The microvessel density in patients with vascular Ets-1 expression was significantly higher than that in patients without the expression. A significant positive correlation was discovered between the Ets-1 vascular expression and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, or pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase (dThdPase) activity in the tumor. The positivity of vascular Ets-1 expression was higher in node-positive patients and in M1 patients. The survival rate was significantly lower in those cases positive for vascular Ets-1. Angiogenic factors such as VEGF might be involved in tumor angiogenesis through the Ets-1 vascular expression. The Ets-1 vascular expression may be a prognostic factor for colorectal cancer.