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Romano F, Di Porzio A, Iaccarino N, Riccardi G, Di Lorenzo R, Laneri S, Pagano B, Amato J, Randazzo A. G-quadruplexes in cancer-related gene promoters: from identification to therapeutic targeting. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2023; 33:745-773. [PMID: 37855085 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2023.2271168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Guanine-rich DNA sequences can fold into four-stranded noncanonical secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s) which are widely distributed in functional regions of the human genome, such as telomeres and gene promoter regions. Compelling evidence suggests their involvement in key genome functions such as gene expression and genome stability. Notably, the abundance of G4-forming sequences near transcription start sites suggests their potential involvement in regulating oncogenes. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of current knowledge on G4s in human oncogene promoters. The most representative G4-binding ligands have also been documented. The objective of this work is to present a comprehensive overview of the most promising targets for the development of novel and highly specific anticancer drugs capable of selectively impacting the expression of individual or a limited number of genes. EXPERT OPINION Modulation of G4 formation by specific ligands has been proposed as a powerful new tool to treat cancer through the control of oncogene expression. Actually, most of G4-binding small molecules seem to simultaneously target a range of gene promoter G4s, potentially influencing several critical driver genes in cancer, thus producing significant therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Romano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Anna Di Porzio
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzia Iaccarino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Sonia Laneri
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Pagano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Randazzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Jin XX, Gao C, Wei WX, Jiao C, Li L, Ma BL, Dong C. The role of microRNA-4723-5p regulated by c-myc in triple-negative breast cancer. Bioengineered 2022; 13:9097-9105. [PMID: 35382692 PMCID: PMC9162010 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2056824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of miRNA regulated by c-myc and its mechanism in three negative breast cancer (TNBC). We constructed MDA-MB-231 cell line with low expression of c-myc by lentivirus short hairpin RNA (shRNA), analyzed the miRNA expression profile of MDA-MB-231 cell line with different expression levels of c-myc by high-throughput sequencing technology, obtained differential miRNA by bioinformatics analysis and statistical analysis, and verified hsa-mir-4723-5p by Quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction(QRT-PCR). The target gene of hsa-mir-4723-5p was analyzed by miRDB and miRWalk database. The results showed that there were significant differences in 126 miRNAs in c-myc knockdown cell lines compared with the control group, of which 84 were significantly up-regulated and 42 were significantly down regulated. According to the results of miRNA sequencing, the miRNA closely related to the expression of c-myc was hsa-mir-4723-5p. QRT PCR showed that the expression of hsa-mir-4723-5p was down regulated in TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 with low expression of c-myc, which was positively correlated with the expression. The target genes of hsa-mir-4723-5p were predicted according to mirdb and mirwalk database. A total of 112 target genes were obtained, and 107 target genes were related to hsa-mir-4723-5p. Through mirdb and mirwalk databases, it was found that the target gene TRAF4 of hsa-mir-4723-5p may be related to cancer pathway and affect tumor metastasis. In conclusion, the hsa-miR-4723-5p regulated by c-myc may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Xin Jin
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Wen-Xin Wei
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Chong Jiao
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Gynecology and surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Bin-Lin Ma
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
| | - Chao Dong
- Department of Breast, Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinijiang, China
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Pan C, Zhu Y, Yu M, Zhao Y, Zhang C, Zhang X, Yao Y. Control Analysis of Protein-Protein Interaction Network Reveals Potential Regulatory Targets for MYCN. Front Oncol 2021; 11:633579. [PMID: 33968733 PMCID: PMC8096904 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.633579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MYCN is an oncogenic transcription factor of the MYC family and plays an important role in the formation of tissues and organs during development before birth. Due to the difficulty in drugging MYCN directly, revealing the molecules in MYCN regulatory networks will help to identify effective therapeutic targets. METHODS We utilized network controllability theory, a recent developed powerful tool, to identify the potential drug target around MYCN based on Protein-Protein interaction network of MYCN. First, we constructed a Protein-Protein interaction network of MYCN based on public databases. Second, network control analysis was applied on network to identify driver genes and indispensable genes of the MYCN regulatory network. Finally, we developed a novel integrated approach to identify potential drug targets for regulating the function of the MYCN regulatory network. RESULTS We constructed an MYCN regulatory network that has 79 genes and 129 interactions. Based on network controllability theory, we analyzed driver genes which capable to fully control the network. We found 10 indispensable genes whose alternation will significantly change the regulatory pathways of the MYCN network. We evaluated the stability and correlation analysis of these genes and found EGFR may be the potential drug target which closely associated with MYCN. CONCLUSION Together, our findings indicate that EGFR plays an important role in the regulatory network and pathways of MYCN and therefore may represent an attractive therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Pan
- Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- Joint Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Precision Medicine of China Medical University and Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuyan Zhu
- Joint Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Precision Medicine of China Medical University and Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of Reproductive Biology and Transgenic Animal, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yongkang Zhao
- National Institute of Health and Medical Big Data, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Xizhe Zhang
- Joint Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Precision Medicine of China Medical University and Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
- Early Intervention Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Yao
- Department of Physiology, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China
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Raieli S, Di Renzo D, Lampis S, Amadesi C, Montemurro L, Pession A, Hrelia P, Fischer M, Tonelli R. MYCN Drives a Tumor Immunosuppressive Environment Which Impacts Survival in Neuroblastoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:625207. [PMID: 33718189 PMCID: PMC7951059 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.625207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of malignancies presents MYCN amplification (MNA) or dysregulation. MYCN is associated with poor prognosis and its over-expression leads to several dysregulations including metabolic reprogramming, mitochondria alteration, and cancer stem cell phenotype. Some hints suggest that MYCN overexpression leads to cancer immune-escape. However, this relationship presents various open questions. Our work investigated in details the relationship of MYCN with the immune system, finding a correlated immune-suppressive phenotype in neuroblastoma (NB) and different cancers where MYCN is up-regulated. We found a downregulated Th1-lymphocytes/M1-Macrophages axis and upregulated Th2-lymphocytes/M2-macrophages in MNA NB patients. Moreover, we unveiled a complex immune network orchestrated by N-Myc and we identified 16 genes modules associated to MNA NB. We also identified a MYCN-associated immune signature that has a prognostic value in NB and recapitulates clinical features. Our signature also discriminates patients with poor survival in non-MNA NB patients where MYCN expression is not discriminative. Finally, we showed that targeted inhibition of MYCN by BGA002 (anti-MYCN antigene PNA) is able to restore NK sensibility in MYCN-expressing NB cells. Overall, our study unveils a MYCN-driven immune network in NB and shows a therapeutic option to restore sensibility to immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniele Di Renzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Montemurro
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Pession
- Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Hrelia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matthias Fischer
- Department of Experimental Pediatric Oncology, Medical Faculty, University Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Roberto Tonelli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Rodríguez A, Zhang K, Färkkilä A, Filiatrault J, Yang C, Velázquez M, Furutani E, Goldman DC, García de Teresa B, Garza-Mayén G, McQueen K, Sambel LA, Molina B, Torres L, González M, Vadillo E, Pelayo R, Fleming WH, Grompe M, Shimamura A, Hautaniemi S, Greenberger J, Frías S, Parmar K, D'Andrea AD. MYC Promotes Bone Marrow Stem Cell Dysfunction in Fanconi Anemia. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:33-47.e8. [PMID: 32997960 PMCID: PMC7796920 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow failure (BMF) in Fanconi anemia (FA) patients results from dysfunctional hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). To identify determinants of BMF, we performed single-cell transcriptome profiling of primary HSPCs from FA patients. In addition to overexpression of p53 and TGF-β pathway genes, we identified high levels of MYC expression. We correspondingly observed coexistence of distinct HSPC subpopulations expressing high levels of TP53 or MYC in FA bone marrow (BM). Inhibiting MYC expression with the BET bromodomain inhibitor (+)-JQ1 reduced the clonogenic potential of FA patient HSPCs but rescued physiological and genotoxic stress in HSPCs from FA mice, showing that MYC promotes proliferation while increasing DNA damage. MYC-high HSPCs showed significant downregulation of cell adhesion genes, consistent with enhanced egress of FA HSPCs from bone marrow to peripheral blood. We speculate that MYC overexpression impairs HSPC function in FA patients and contributes to exhaustion in FA bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Rodríguez
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Kaiyang Zhang
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Anniina Färkkilä
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Jessica Filiatrault
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Chunyu Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Martha Velázquez
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Elissa Furutani
- Dana Farber and Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Devorah C Goldman
- Oregon Stem Cell Center, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | | | - Gilda Garza-Mayén
- Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Kelsey McQueen
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Larissa A Sambel
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bertha Molina
- Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Leda Torres
- Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Marisol González
- Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Vadillo
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Oncológicas, Hospital de Oncología, Centro Médico Nacional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Rosana Pelayo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla 74360, Mexico
| | - William H Fleming
- Oregon Stem Cell Center, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Markus Grompe
- Oregon Stem Cell Center, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Akiko Shimamura
- Dana Farber and Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sampsa Hautaniemi
- Research Program in Systems Oncology, Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Joel Greenberger
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Sara Frías
- Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Kalindi Parmar
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Combinatorial targeting of MTHFD2 and PAICS in purine synthesis as a novel therapeutic strategy. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:786. [PMID: 31624245 PMCID: PMC6797810 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2033-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
MYCN-amplified (MNA) neuroblastoma is an aggressive neural crest-derived pediatric cancer. However, MYCN is indispensable for development and transcriptionally regulates extensive network of genes. Integrating anti-MYCN ChIP-seq and gene expression profiles of neuroblastoma patients revealed the metabolic enzymes, MTHFD2 and PAICS, required for one-carbon metabolism and purine biosynthesis were concomitantly upregulated, which were more susceptible to metastatic neuroblastoma. Moreover, we found that MYCN mediated the folate cycle via MTHFD2, which contributed one-carbon unit to enhance purine synthesis, and further regulated nucleotide production by PAICS in response to cancer progression. Dual knockdown of the MYCN-targeted gene pair, MTHFD2 and PAICS, in MNA neuroblastoma cells synergically reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, migration ability, and DNA synthesis. By systematically screening the compound perturbagens, the gene expression levels of MTHFD2 and PAICS were specifically suppressed by anisomycin and apicidin across cell lines, and our co-treatment results also displayed synergistic inhibition of MNA neuroblastoma cell proliferation. Collectively, targeting a combination of MYCN-targeted genes that interrupts the interconnection of metabolic pathways may overcome drug toxicity and improve the efficacy of current therapeutic agents in MNA neuroblastoma.
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Ning S, Gao Y, Wang P, Li X, Zhi H, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhang J, Guo M, Han D, Li X. Construction of a lncRNA-mediated feed-forward loop network reveals global topological features and prognostic motifs in human cancers. Oncotarget 2018; 7:45937-45947. [PMID: 27322142 PMCID: PMC5216772 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), transcription factors and microRNAs can form lncRNA-mediated feed-forward loops (L-FFLs), which are functional network motifs that regulate a wide range of biological processes, such as development and carcinogenesis. However, L-FFL network motifs have not been systematically identified, and their roles in human cancers are largely unknown. In this study, we computationally integrated data from multiple sources to construct a global L-FFL network for six types of human cancer and characterized the topological features of the network. Our approach revealed several dysregulated L-FFL motifs common across different cancers or specific to particular cancers. We also found that L-FFL motifs can take part in other types of regulatory networks, such as mRNA-mediated FFLs and ceRNA networks, and form the more complex networks in human cancers. In addition, survival analyses further indicated that L-FFL motifs could potentially serve as prognostic biomarkers. Collectively, this study elucidated the roles of L-FFL motifs in human cancers, which could be beneficial for understanding cancer pathogenesis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangwei Ning
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yue Gao
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiang Li
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hui Zhi
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yue Liu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jizhou Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Maoni Guo
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Dong Han
- National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Xia Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
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Zaytseva O, Quinn LM. Controlling the Master: Chromatin Dynamics at the MYC Promoter Integrate Developmental Signaling. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8040118. [PMID: 28398229 PMCID: PMC5406865 DOI: 10.3390/genes8040118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor and cell growth regulator MYC is potently oncogenic and estimated to contribute to most cancers. Decades of attempts to therapeutically target MYC directly have not resulted in feasible clinical applications, and efforts have moved toward indirectly targeting MYC expression, function and/or activity to treat MYC-driven cancer. A multitude of developmental and growth signaling pathways converge on the MYC promoter to modulate transcription through their downstream effectors. Critically, even small increases in MYC abundance (<2 fold) are sufficient to drive overproliferation; however, the details of how oncogenic/growth signaling networks regulate MYC at the level of transcription remain nebulous even during normal development. It is therefore essential to first decipher mechanisms of growth signal-stimulated MYC transcription using in vivo models, with intact signaling environments, to determine exactly how these networks are dysregulated in human cancer. This in turn will provide new modalities and approaches to treat MYC-driven malignancy. Drosophila genetic studies have shed much light on how complex networks signal to transcription factors and enhancers to orchestrate Drosophila MYC (dMYC) transcription, and thus growth and patterning of complex multicellular tissue and organs. This review will discuss the many pathways implicated in patterning MYC transcription during development and the molecular events at the MYC promoter that link signaling to expression. Attention will also be drawn to parallels between mammalian and fly regulation of MYC at the level of transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Zaytseva
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
| | - Leonie M Quinn
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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The MYCN Protein in Health and Disease. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8040113. [PMID: 28358317 PMCID: PMC5406860 DOI: 10.3390/genes8040113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
MYCN is a member of the MYC family of proto-oncogenes. It encodes a transcription factor, MYCN, involved in the control of fundamental processes during embryonal development. The MYCN protein is situated downstream of several signaling pathways promoting cell growth, proliferation and metabolism of progenitor cells in different developing organs and tissues. Conversely, deregulated MYCN signaling supports the development of several different tumors, mainly with a childhood onset, including neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilms’ tumor, but it is also associated with some cancers occurring during adulthood such as prostate and lung cancer. In neuroblastoma, MYCN-amplification is the most consistent genetic aberration associated with poor prognosis and treatment failure. Targeting MYCN has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of these tumors and great efforts have allowed the development of direct and indirect MYCN inhibitors with potential clinical use.
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