Expression of Ets-1 angiogenesis-related protein in gastric cancer

The Ets-1 transcription factor plays important roles in invasiveness and an giogenesis. Using automated immunodetection, we investigated Ets-1 expressi on and tumor microvessel density (MVD) in relation to the clinical signific ance of gastric cancer. The MVD of Ets-1-positive tumors was higher than th at of Ets-1-negative tumors, but the difference was insignificant. The surv ival rate of patients with high-MVD tumors was significantly poorer than th ose with low-MVD tumors, and the survival rate of patients with Ets-1-posit ive tumors was significantly poorer than that of those with negative ones. These results indicate that Ets-1 expression is a useful marker for predict ing the outcome for patients with gastric cancer. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.