Identification of novel small molecule inhibitors of ETS transcription factors

Abstract

The evolutionarily conserved E-Twenty-Six (ETS) family of transcription factors acts downstream of major signal transduction pathways and plays a pivotal role in tissue development and maintenance. Importantly, their function is frequently corrupted in a substantial proportion of tumour types, and they are also indispensable for angiogenic sprouting, a hallmark of cancer, which is essential for fuelling tumour enlargement and dissemination. Consequently, targeting aberrant ETS activity could potentially represent a precise and effective means by which to block tumour growth. Here, we present proof-of-principle high-throughput screens and an initial characterization of candidate hits, as a methodological and conceptual framework for the identification of novel ETS transcription factor inhibitors, which may ultimately lead to new therapeutic avenues for treating cancer.