PEA3 family of transcription factors and the regulation of oncogenesis

Erm, Er81, andPea3 are the three members of the PEA3 group which belong to the Ets transcription factors family, These proteins regulate transcription of multiple target genes, such as those encoding several matrix metalloproteinases (AIMP), which are enzymes degrading the extracellular matrix during cancer metastasis. In fact, PEA3-group genes are often overexpressed in different types of human cancers that also over-express these MMP and display a disseminating phenotype, In experimental models, regulation of PEA3 group member expression has been shown to influence the metastatic process, thus suggesting that these factors play a key role in metastasis.