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Polycomb group proteins and MYC: the cancer connection

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Abstract

Polycomb group proteins (PcGs) are transcriptional repressors involved in physiological processes whereas PcG deregulation might result in oncogenesis. MYC oncogene is able to regulate gene transcription, proliferation, apoptosis, and malignant transformation. MYC deregulation might result in tumorigenesis with tumor maintenance properties in both solid and blood cancers. Although the interaction of PcG and MYC in cancer was described years ago, new findings are reported every day to explain the exact mechanisms and results of such interactions. In this review, we summarize recent data on the PcG and MYC interactions in cancer, and the putative involvement of microRNAs in the equation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Nikolaos Benetatos MD for critical review of the manuscript. The authors apologize to those authors whose work has not been cited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blood Bank, General Hospital of Preveza, Selefkias 2, 48100, Preveza, Greece

    Leonidas Benetatos

  2. Molecular Biology Laboratory, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    George Vartholomatos

  3. Deparment of Hematology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Eleftheria Hatzimichael

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  1. Leonidas Benetatos
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  2. George Vartholomatos
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  3. Eleftheria Hatzimichael
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Correspondence to Leonidas Benetatos.

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Benetatos, L., Vartholomatos, G. & Hatzimichael, E. Polycomb group proteins and MYC: the cancer connection. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 71, 257–269 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1426-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-013-1426-x

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