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Taking on challenging targets: making MYC druggable

Dai Horiuchi1, Brittany Anderton1, Andrei Goga1

  • 1From the Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; the Department of Cell & Tissue Biology and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; and the Department of Cell & Tissue Biology, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Annual Meeting
|May 27, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The proto-oncogene c-MYC (MYC) drives aggressive cancers, but targeted therapies remain elusive. Researchers are exploring new strategies to combat MYC-overexpressing tumors, a previously undruggable target.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The proto-oncogene c-MYC (MYC) is a transcription factor deregulated in aggressive human malignancies.
  • MYC influences critical cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and survival.
  • Elevated MYC expression correlates with aggressive tumor phenotypes and poorer disease-free survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the progress in developing targeted therapies for MYC-overexpressing tumors.
  • To highlight MYC as a challenging but critical therapeutic target in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical animal and cell-based model systems.
  • Analysis of ongoing research into MYC-dependent tumorigenesis and therapeutic strategies.
  • Investigation of MYC overexpression and gene signatures as potential clinical biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • MYC deregulation is a hallmark of aggressive cancers, driving high proliferation and poor prognosis.
  • Despite extensive research, no targeted therapies are currently available for MYC-driven tumors.
  • Preclinical models are crucial for understanding MYC's role and developing treatment strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting MYC-overexpressing tumors presents a significant challenge in cancer therapy.
  • Ongoing research shows promise in developing novel therapeutic strategies against this previously undruggable target.
  • Understanding MYC biology is key to advancing treatments for aggressive cancers.

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