Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2025

Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
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Targeting MYC with protein drugs

Jumi A Shin1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada.

Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science
|March 23, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Protein drugs show promise for targeting the MYC oncogene, a key driver in many cancers. Omomyc, a protein drug, has successfully inhibited solid tumors, offering a new strategy against MYC-driven cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, with limited therapeutic options beyond small molecules.
  • The MYC proto-oncogene, implicated in most human cancers, is a critical target for novel cancer therapies.
  • Current treatments struggle to effectively target MYC due to its intracellular and genomic interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of protein drugs as next-generation therapeutics against the MYC oncogene.
  • To highlight the efficacy of Omomyc, a protein drug, in inhibiting MYC-driven solid tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated the mechanism of action for protein drugs targeting intracellular MYC.
  • Evaluated the therapeutic potential of Omomyc in preclinical and clinical settings for solid tumors.

Main Results:

  • Protein drugs can function within the cell nucleus to interact with the genome or MYC.
  • Omomyc demonstrated successful inhibition of solid tumors in human trials, unlike small-molecule drugs targeting MYC.
  • MYC's role as a crucial regulator necessitates new containment strategies when dysregulated.

Conclusions:

  • Protein drugs represent a promising frontier for developing novel cancer therapies targeting MYC.
  • Omomyc offers a viable therapeutic strategy for cancers driven by aberrant MYC activity.
  • Further development of protein-based therapeutics is crucial for advancing cancer treatment.
Keywords:
E-box response elementIntrinsically disordered protein structureLipid nanoparticle (LNP)LiposomeMAXME47MEFMSin3AMYCMadOmomycSID moduleTranscription factor

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