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Ross J, Miron CE, Plescia J, Laplante P, McBride K, Moitessier N, Möröy T. Targeting MYC: From understanding its biology to drug discovery. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 213:113137. [PMID: 33460833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The MYC oncogene is considered to be a high priority target for clinical intervention in cancer patients due to its aberrant activation in more than 50% of human cancers. Direct small molecule inhibition of MYC has traditionally been hampered by its intrinsically disordered nature and lack of both binding site and enzymatic activity. In recent years, however, a number of strategies for indirectly targeting MYC have emerged, guided by the advent of protein structural information and the growing set of computational tools that can be used to accelerate the hit to lead process in medicinal chemistry. In this review, we provide an overview of small molecules developed for clinical applications of these strategies, which include stabilization of the MYC guanine quadruplex, inhibition of BET factor BRD4, and disruption of the MYC:MAX heterodimer. The recent identification of novel targets for indirect MYC inhibition at the protein level is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Ross
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Pine Ave W., Montréal, Québec, H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Caitlin E Miron
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Jessica Plescia
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Patricia Laplante
- AmorChem II Ventures Inc., 4 Westmount Sq. Bureau 160, Westmount, Québec, H3Z 2S6, Canada
| | - Kevin McBride
- AmorChem II Ventures Inc., 4 Westmount Sq. Bureau 160, Westmount, Québec, H3Z 2S6, Canada
| | - Nicolas Moitessier
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada.
| | - Tarik Möröy
- Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), 110 Pine Ave W., Montréal, Québec, H2W 1R7, Canada; Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, 2900, boul. Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, Québec, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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