Remembering Takis S Papas: A pioneer in Ets research

This review issue of ONCOGENE is unique in that it has two important functions: To remember Takis S Papas, a year after his unexpected and sudden death, and to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current status of Ets biology. As exemplified by the review articles in this issue of ONCOGENE, the Ets field has come a long way since the discovery of Ets1 as a virally transduced oncogene over 15 years ago. We have moved from studies directed towards understanding a limited number of family members to a more complex network of nearly 30 mammalian Ets transcription factors. Animal model systems from C. elegans, Drosophila, Xenopus, Birds and mice are rapidly being generated to allow for a more mechanistic understanding of the family. Already, functions predicted from expression analysis of specific Ets genes are beginning to be validated by elegant gain and loss of function studies. Dysregulated Ets function is associated with human disease. In addition to affording diagnostic tools, Ets factors and the genes they control provide unique therapeutic tools. Furthermore, novel therapeutic approaches are likely to be developed, as we better define mechanisms that modulate Ets function. We now wish to highlight Takis' accomplishments and offer some personal remembrances.