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c-Myc in Cellular Transformation and Cancer

  • Chapter
Transcription Factors

Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 166))

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Abstract

The c-myc gene plays a central role in a wide diversity of cellular processes, including cell cycle, cell growth (including protein synthesis), DNA dynamics, and apoptosis. As one of the most common oncogenes in human cancer, c-myc is commonly gene amplified in solid tumors and deregulated by chromosomal translocation in hematologic malignancies. A significant body of work has already defined pathologic effects of deregulated c-myc on cell proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, and immortality in cancer. However, recent studies have begun to shed light on two, key, additional processes in cancer: cell transformation (anchorage independent growth), and genomic instability (including loss of cell cycle DNA damage-dependent checkpoint control). This review first covers structure-function relationships of c-myc; it then focuses on the emerging aspects of transformation and genomic instability in the pathophysiologic function of this very important oncogene.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    J.-H. Sheen & R. B. Dickson

Authors
  1. J.-H. Sheen
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  2. R. B. Dickson
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Manfred Gossen

  2. atugen AG, Robert-Rössle-Strasse 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Jörg Kaufmann

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, 510 Biochemistry Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1319, USA

    Steven J. Triezenberg (Associate Director) (Associate Director)

  4. Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, 510 Biochemistry Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1319, USA

    Steven J. Triezenberg (Associate Director) (Associate Director)

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© 2004 Springer-Verlag

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Sheen, JH., Dickson, R.B. (2004). c-Myc in Cellular Transformation and Cancer. In: Gossen, M., Kaufmann, J., Triezenberg, S.J. (eds) Transcription Factors. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 166. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18932-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18932-6_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62361-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18932-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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