Tales of destruction and repair: the changing view of MYC proteins in tumorigenesis.

MYC proteins enhance tumor cell resilience by engaging in multiple complexes and binding DNA and RNA, supporting oncogenic gene expression in cancer.

• Why it matters: Understanding MYC proteins' diverse roles is crucial because they enable tumor cells to withstand transcriptional stress and sustain abnormal gene programs, contributing to cancer progression.
• What they did: The study reviews recent findings showing MYC proteins form various complexes that resolve transcription-associated stress and act as both DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, expanding their functional scope.
• The result: These insights reveal that MYC proteins promote stress resilience in proliferating cells, highlighting potential targets for therapies aimed at disrupting their role in tumorigenesis.