Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
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Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells

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The Molecular 'Myc-anisms' Behind Myc-Driven Tumorigenesis and the Relevant Myc-Directed Therapeutics

Jessica McAnulty1, Analisa DiFeo1

  • 1Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|December 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Myc, a proto-oncogene overexpressed in many cancers, is challenging to target. This review explores five key therapeutic strategies to disrupt Myc

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • The MYC proto-oncogene is overexpressed in over 20% of human cancers.
  • MYC is considered
  • undruggable
  • due to its essential cellular functions and lack of a defined drug-binding pocket.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which MYC drives cancer progression.
  • To highlight key therapeutic strategies for targeting MYC.
  • To inform the development of novel MYC-directed cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MYC's role in cancer.
  • Analysis of established and emerging therapeutic strategies targeting MYC.
  • Categorization of therapies based on the targeted mechanism.

Main Results:

  • MYC promotes cancer through various mechanisms, including transcriptional regulation, protein interactions, and metabolic reprogramming.
  • Five key therapeutic approaches to disrupt MYC are identified: targeting transcription, MYC-MAX dimerization, protein stability, cell cycle regulation, and metabolism.
  • Both indirect and direct therapeutic strategies have been developed.

Conclusions:

  • Despite its historical
  • undruggable
  • status, significant progress has been made in developing MYC-targeting therapies.
  • Further research into these five key therapeutic areas holds promise for more specific and effective cancer treatments.
Keywords:
cancercell cycleinhibitorsmaxmetabolismmycstabilitysynthetic lethalitytranscription

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