MYC-Driven Pathways in Breast Cancer Subtypes

• Published in: Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 7; no. 3; p. 53
• Main Authors: Fallah, Yassi, Brundage, Janetta, Allegakoen, Paul, Shajahan-Haq, Ayesha N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.07.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Biochemical markers; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell death; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Epidermal growth factor; ErbB-2 protein; Estrogen receptors; Estrogens; Female; Gene Amplification; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Regulatory Networks; HER2; Humans; Medical treatment; Metabolic pathways; Myc protein; Neoplasm Grading; Non-coding RNA; Progesterone; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc - genetics; Review; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Signal transduction; TNBC; Transcription factors; Tumors; Up-Regulation; breast cancer; drug resistance; HER2; TNBC; ER
• ISSN: 2218-273X; 2218-273X
• DOI: 10.3390/biom7030053

The transcription factor MYC (MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor) is an essential signaling hub in multiple cellular processes that sustain growth of many types of cancers. MYC regulates expression of RNA, both protein and non-coding, that control central metabolic pathways, cell death, proliferation, differentiation, stress pathways, and mechanisms of drug resistance. Activation of MYC has been widely reported in breast cancer progression. Breast cancer is a complex heterogeneous disease and treatment options are primarily guided by histological and biochemical evaluations of the tumors. Based on biochemical markers, three main breast cancer categories are ER+ (estrogen receptor alpha positive), HER2+ (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive), and TNBC (triple-negative breast cancer; estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, HER2 negative). MYC is elevated in TNBC compared with other cancer subtypes. Interestingly, MYC-driven pathways are further elevated in aggressive breast cancer cells and tumors that display drug resistant phenotype. Identification of MYC target genes is essential in isolating signaling pathways that drive tumor development. In this review, we address the role of MYC in the three major breast cancer subtypes and highlight the most promising leads to target MYC functions.