77 www.oncoreview.pl ELF3 as an important factor in carcinogenesis – a brief review of the recent studies Julia Domańska 1 , Kamil Poboży 1 , Michał Kuryłek 1 , Marta M. Fudalej 1 , Aleksandra Sobiborowicz 1 , Andrzej Deptała 2 , Anna M. Badowska-Kozakiewicz 2 1 Students’ Scientific Organization of Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland 2 Department of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland Review article Correspondence: Marta M. Fudalej Department of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw 02-091 Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 81 e-mail: mmfudalej@gmail.com Received: 19.03.2020 Accepted: 29.05.2020 DOI: 10.24292/01.OR.220290520 Copyright © Medical Education. All rights reserved. ABSTRACT Introduction and objective E74-like transcription factor 3 (ELF3) is mainly expressed in epithelial tissue, being responsible for differentiation and regeneration. Furthermore, it plays a role in inflammation, remodeling, allergy reg- ulation and apoptosis. Various studies on ELF3 conducted since 1997 have also proved its connection with carcinogenesis and metastasis. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the role of ELF3 in the following cancers: ampullary, bladder, breast, gastric, hepatocellular, nasopharyn- geal, thyroid, lung and ovarian ones. State of knowledge There are still many unresolved and undiscovered issues regarding ELF3 mutations, however, based on research since 2016, a link to many signaling pathways important for carcinogenesis has been shown. There is no simple correlation between a specific ELF3 mutation and effect on cancer cells. In various types of cancers, ELF3 is associated with other pathways, and modifications exerted by silenc- ing or amplifying its or associated genes, cause different effects in patient prediction. An example of the effect of ELF3 on tumor progression is achieved by negatively regulating the ZEB1 transcription factor responsible for metastasis. WNT, RAS, Akt, mTOR, HER2, Cyclin D, IRF6 are other ELF3-related factors that affects pathways crucial for tumorigenesis. Conclusions Further research and attempts to use ELF3 in the treatment and prognosis of cancer appear to be beneficial. Key words: ELF3, carcinogenesis, molecular biology PERSONALIZED ONCOLOGY OncoReview 2020/Vol. 10/Nr 2/77-81 © Medical Education. For private and non-commmercial use only. Downloaded from https://www.journalsmededu.pl/index.php/OncoReview/index: 19.02.2022; 14:04,20 For non- commercial use only