The ups and downs of Myc biology.
The basic helix-loop-helix protein Myc is a renowned transcription factor controlling disparate aspects of cell physiology that, together, allow efficient proliferation of somatic cells. This ability, together with the observation that its deregulated expression occurs in the majority of human cancers, suggests that Myc could be a good therapeutic target. However, several aspects of Myc biology remain elusive: what is the major difference between oncogenic and physiological Myc? How does oncogenic Myc evade the intrinsic tumor surveillance pathways provided by evolution? If Myc inhibition were even possible, what would be the consequences for the homeostasis of normal proliferating tissues versus the fate of cancer cells? Here we summarize the latest works addressing these issues.
Soucek
Laura
L
Department of Pathology and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0502, USA. laura.soucek@ucsf.edu
Evan
Gerard I
GI
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; C489427:MYC protein, human