ELK1 is a transcription factor belonging to the ETS family that functions as a key regulator of gene expression through multiple signaling pathways. It binds to purine-rich DNA sequences and serum response elements (SREs) on immediate early genes such as FOS and IER2, typically as part of a ternary complex with serum response factor (SRF) 123. ELK1 is activated primarily through the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway via phosphorylation at Ser383 and Ser389 4, and also responds to JNK signaling 2. The protein exhibits dual activating and repressive transcriptional roles depending on genomic context 5. ELK1 exists as long (L-ELK1) and short (S-ELK1) isoforms with distinct functional properties; L-ELK1 contains SRF interaction domains absent in S-ELK1 6. Clinically, ELK1 dysregulation is implicated in multiple pathologies. Elevated ELK1 expression and activation occur across various solid tumors (lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, gastric, liver, cervical, thyroid, and ovarian cancers), where it promotes proliferation, migration, EMT, and drug resistance 7. In hematopoiesis, ELK1 regulates the balance between neutrophil and erythroid differentiation 6. ELK1 also participates in hepatocellular carcinoma progression through feedback regulation with circMFN2 and miR-361-3p, promoting glutaminolysis 8, and in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis by regulating presenilin-1 stability 4.