Targeting MYC to Combat Pancreatic Cancer

Abstract

Due to its invasiveness, heterogeneity and multiple-drug resistance, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has been considered as a refractory malignant tumor. Although various studies have been conducted on the potential mechanisms that promote PDAC origination and metastasis, the research results and clinical translation to treat PDAC still needs improvement. With the development of individualized medicine and the implementation of gene sequencing, it has been confirmed that myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC) contributes to poor prognosis in cancer cases. Furthermore, the deregulation of MYC exists in a majority of pancreatic cancer types, and is crucial for tumor cell proliferation and migration. Several recent studies have revealed the specific mechanisms of MYC in affecting PDAC, and clarified suppression of MYC as a promising therapeutic strategy. This review focused on emerging novel therapeutic strategies based on the direct or indirect targeting of MYC to combat PDAC.