The interplay between MYC and HIF in cancer

• Published in: Nature reviews. Cancer Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 51 - 56
• Main Authors: Dang, Chi V, Kim, Jung-whan, Gao, Ping, Yustein, Jason
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.01.2008; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - genetics; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Development and progression; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, myc; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Hypoxia; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 - genetics; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 - physiology; Models, Biological; Models, Genetic; Neoplasms - genetics; Oncogenes; opinion-2; Physiological aspects; Transcription, Genetic; Tumors; United States
• ISSN: 1474-175X; 1474-1768
• DOI: 10.1038/nrc2274

This Perspective considers the differences between the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)–MYC transcriptional network that operates under normal homeostatic conditions and the network that operates in a tumorigenic milieu. The interaction of MYC and hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) under physiological, non-tumorigenic conditions provides insights into normal homeostatic cellular responses to low oxygen levels (hypoxia). Many tumours contain genetic alterations, such as MYC activation, that can collaborate with HIF to confer metabolic advantages to tumour cells, which tend to exist in a hypoxic microenvironment. This Perspective emphasizes the differences between the transcriptional network that operates under normal homeostatic conditions and the network in a tumorigenic milieu.