Review
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2013; 19(21): 3189-3198
Published online Jun 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i21.3189
E2F transcription factors and digestive system malignancies: How much do we know?
Athanasios Xanthoulis, Dina G Tiniakos
Athanasios Xanthoulis, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastroenterological Surgery, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, 7600 Levanger, Norway
Dina G Tiniakos, Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Xanthoulis A contributed to the literature search, manuscript writing and final revision of the article; Tiniakos DG contributed to the study idea, study design and final revision of the article; both authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by “Kapodistrias” Research Program, Special Accounts Research Fund 70/4/6549, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Correspondence to: Dina G Tiniakos, MD, PhD, Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 M Asias street, 11527 Athens, Greece. dtiniak@med.uoa.gr
Telephone: +30-210-7462362 Fax: +30-210-7462340
Received: December 12, 2012
Revised: March 20, 2013
Accepted: March 28, 2013
Published online: June 7, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: The E2F family of transcription factors has been in the focus of cancer research because its members regulate significant cellular functions related to cell cycle and apoptosis. E2Fs may act either as tumor-promoters or as tumor-suppressors, depending on the tissue. This review highlights the role of E2Fs in digestive system malignancies and their possible implication in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.