MYC and the Pathway to Cancer

The MYC gene is frequently activated in cancer. It encodes a transcription factor that controls gene expression programs regulating numerous aspects of cellular behavior, including cell proliferation, metabolism, differentiation, and cell death. Deregulation of these processes caused by MYC overexpression is thought to play a critical role in tumorigenesis.

Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine covers all aspects of MYC biology. The contributors discuss its normal functions in the control of cell growth, pluripotency, and development, as well as the molecular basis for its effects on transcription. In addition, they examine how MYC induces apoptosis, its effects on metabolism and genomic stability, and the expression of MYC-regulated microRNAs.

The authors also provide a detailed analysis of the role of MYC in tumor initiation and progression. Its involvement in cancers such as medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma is examined, as are the prospects for anti-MYC therapies in cancer treatment. This book is thus essential reading for all cancer biologists, as well as researchers studying the regulation of gene expression.