title: The Myc oncoprotein as a therapeutic target for human cancer.
abstract: Myc expression is deregulated in a wide range of human cancers and is often associated with aggressive, poorly differentiated tumors. The Myc protein is a transcription factor that regulates a variety of cellular processes including cell growth and proliferation, cell-cycle progression, transcription, differentiation, apoptosis, and cell motility. Potential strategies that either inhibit the growth promoting effect of Myc and/or activate its pro-apoptotic function are presently being explored. In this review, we give an overview of Myc activation in human tumors and discuss current strategies aimed at targeting Myc for cancer treatment. Such therapies could have potential in combination with mechanistically different cytotoxic drugs to combat and eradicate tumors cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henriksson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc