Role of MYC in Medulloblastoma

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013 Nov 1;3(11):a014308. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a014308.

Abstract

Since its discovery as an oncogene carried by the avian acute leukemia virus MC29 in myelocytomatosis (Roussel et al. 1979) and its cloning (Vennstrom et al. 1982), c-MYC (MYC), as well as its paralogs MYCN and MYCL1, has been shown to play essential roles in cycling progenitor cells born from proliferating zones during embryonic development, and in all proliferating cells after birth. MYC deletion induces cell-cycle exit or cell death, depending on the cell type and milieu, whereas MYC and MYCN amplification or overexpression promotes cell proliferation and occurs in many cancers. Here, we review the relationship of MYC family proteins to the four molecularly distinct medulloblastoma subgroups, discuss the possible roles MYC plays in each of these subgroups and in the developing cells of the posterior fossa, and speculate on possible therapeutic strategies targeting MYC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / therapy
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / growth & development
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Gene Amplification / genetics
  • Genes, myc / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics*
  • Medulloblastoma / therapy
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc