title: c-myc and cutaneous vascular neoplasms.
abstract: The c-myc proto-oncogene is involved in various cellular processes including cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Overexpression and deregulated expression of the gene have been previously linked to several lineage-unrelated, aggressive, and poorly differentiated tumors. The expression of c-myc has also been implicated in hematopoiesis and has been shown to play a crucial role in angiogenesis via a vascular endothelial growth factor-dependent mechanism. This gives c-myc a dual oncogenic function in that tumor growth requires both cell proliferation and angiogenesis to ensure survival and confer an effective malignancy. Amplification of c-myc has been recently reported to be a recurrent genetic alteration in angiosarcomas secondary to irradiation and/or chronic lymphedema. Of note, however, no c-myc gene abnormalities have been demonstrated in cases of primary angiosarcomas or postradiation atypical vascular lesions. More recently, our own experience indicates that c-myc amplification is not normally found in the Kaposi sarcoma and cannot be correlated with expression of the c-Myc protein. This comprehensive review outlines the structure, normal functions, and effects of the deregulated expression of c-myc with particular emphasis on its role in angiogenesis and select cutaneous vascular neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathology Section, Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009383:Neoplasms, Vascular Tissue / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C489427:MYC protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc