A therapeutic role for targeting c-Myc/Hif-1-dependent signaling pathways

Cell Cycle. 2010 May;9(9):1722-8. doi: 10.4161/cc.9.9.11358. Epub 2010 May 1.

Abstract

Deregulated c-Myc occurs in approximately 30% of human cancers. Similarly, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is commonly overexpressed in a variety of human malignancies. Under physiologic conditions, HIF inhibits c-Myc activity; however, when deregulated oncogenic c-Myc collaborates with HIF in inducing the expression of VEGF, PDK1 and hexokinase 2. Most of the knowledge of HIF derives from studies investigating a role of HIF under hypoxic conditions, however, HIF-1alpha stabilization is also found in normoxic conditions. Specifically, under hypoxic conditions HIF-1-mediated regulation of oncogenic c-Myc plays a pivotal role in conferring metabolic advantages to tumor cells as well as adaptation to the tumorigenic micromilieu. In addition, our own results show that under normoxic conditions oncogenic c-Myc is required for constitutive high HIF-1 protein levels and activity in Multiple Myeloma (MM) cells, thereby influencing VEGF secretion and angiogenic activity within the bone marrow microenvironment. Further studies are needed to delineate the functional relevance of HIF, MYC, and the HIF-MYC collaboration in MM and other malignancies, also integrating the tumor microenvironment and the cellular context. Importantly, early studies already demonstrate promising preclinical of novel agents, predominantly small molecules, which target c-Myc, HIF or both.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Hexokinase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 / metabolism*
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics
  • Multiple Myeloma / metabolism*
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase
  • Signal Transduction
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1
  • PDK1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Hexokinase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases