MYC and non-small cell lung cancer: A comprehensive review

The proto-oncogene MYC has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of several cancers, particularly lung cancer. Lung cancer is a fatal disease with widespread affliction all over the world. Two different types of this malignancy include small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC comprises a complex molecular heterogeneity, with many changes in molecular structures and expression frequency. One of these alterations is MYC overexpression due to the gene amplification. A significant proportion of gene amplifications observed in NSCLC are resulted from numerical aberrations of chromosome 8. Since MYC regulates diverse cellular pathways such as cell growth, division, and apoptosis, it has been recognized as an essential transcription factor for growth and invasion of tumor cells. The observed range of MYC gene amplification in NSCLC is variable between 9% and 88% by different reports, making it a valuable title for more research to raise the knowledge about the genesis aspects of NSCLC. Besides, it has been suggested that MYC gene amplification affects NSCLC prognosis and survival since it takes parts in drug resistance and apoptosis. These issues introduce many challenges for early diagnosis and targeted therapies, especially in early stages to increase survival rate of patients with NSCLC. Taken together, MYC mutations and alterations are involved in the evolution and progression of NSCLC and represent targets for therapeutic interventions in this type of cancer.