Involvement of Myc targets in c-myc and N-myc induced human tumors

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Published on: December 31, 2014

T Ben-Yosef1, O Yanuka, D Halle

  • 1Department of Genetics, Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat-Ram, Israel.

Oncogene
|July 23, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Myc proto-oncogenes regulate gene expression, impacting human oncogenesis. This study shows Myc target genes are involved in breast cancer and lymphomas, with complex regulation in neuronal cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Myc proto-oncogenes are transcription factors binding to CACGTG DNA sequences.
  • Key c-Myc target genes include ECA39, p53, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), alpha-prothymosin, and Cdc25A.
  • Myc gene family members (c-Myc, N-Myc) are implicated in various human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of c-Myc target genes in human oncogenesis driven by c-myc or N-myc.
  • To determine if Myc target gene expression correlates with Myc overexpression in different cancer types.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of c-Myc and its target gene expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells after estrogen induction.
  • Examination of Myc target gene expression in human breast tumors with c-myc overexpression.
  • Correlation analysis of c-myc and target gene expression in Burkitt's lymphomas and other lymphoma cells.
  • Investigation of Myc target gene expression patterns in neuroepithelioma and neuroblastoma cell lines.

Main Results:

  • Estrogen-induced c-myc expression in MCF-7 cells led to the induction of all examined Myc targets.
  • Overexpression of c-myc in breast tumors correlated with the overexpression of several Myc target genes.
  • A strong correlation between c-myc and its targets was observed in Burkitt's lymphomas but not other lymphomas.
  • Neuronal-derived cells showed complex Myc target gene expression patterns; N-Myc overexpression in neuroblastomas primarily correlated with ODC overexpression.

Conclusions:

  • Myc target genes play a role in human oncogenesis, particularly in breast cancer and specific lymphomas.
  • Regulation of Myc target genes by N-Myc in neuronal cancers is suggested but appears to require additional cell-specific factors.
  • The study highlights differential regulation of Myc targets depending on the Myc family member and cellular context.

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