Overexpression of ETS-1 is associated with malignant biological features of prostate cancer

E26 transformation-specific-1 (ETS-1), an ETS family transcription factor, has been reported to play an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, but clinical implications of ETS-1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa), particularly high-risk cases, including response to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) have yet to be elucidated. We examined the expression of ETS-1 using immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded prostate carcinoma tissue obtained by needle biopsy from 69 mostly advanced PCa patients. ETS-1 expression was compared with the clinicopathological characteristics of the 69 patients, including 25 who underwent ADT as a primary treatment. As a result, PCa patients with higher expression of ETS-1 were significantly more likely to be of high stage and high Gleason score (P<0.05). There was no significant association between ETS-1 expression and the initial prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. In the 25 patients treated by ADT, the staining score for ETS-1 was significantly associated with rapid development of castration-resistant disease within 24 months (P<0.05), whereas the Gleason score and PSA level were not. In conclusion, increased ETS-1 expression was associated with a higher stage, higher Gleason score and shorter time to castration-resistant progression. These data suggest that immunostaining for ETS-1 could be a molecular marker for predicting a poor clinical outcome for PCa patients, particularly those with high-risk disease.