Reviewing once more the c-myc and Ras collaboration: Converging at the cyclin D1-CDK4 complex and challenging basic concepts of cancer biology

Chenguang Wang, Michael P. Lisanti, D. Joshua Liao

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The c-myc is a proto-oncogene that manifests aberrant expression at high frequencies in most types of human cancer. C-myc gene amplifications are often observed in various cancers as well. Ample studies have also proved that c-myc has a potent oncogenicity, which can be further enhanced by collaborations with other oncogenes such as Bcl-2 and activated Ras. Studies on the collaborations of c-myc with Ras or other genes in oncogenicity have established several basic concepts and have disclosed their underlying mechanisms of tumor biology, including "immortalization" and "transformation". In many cases, these collaborations may converge at the cyclin D1-CDK4 complex. In the mean-time, however, many results from studies on the c-myc, Ras and cyclin D1-CDK4 also challenge these basic concepts of tumor biology and suggest to us that the immortalized status of cells should be emphasized. Stricter criteria and definitions for a malignantly transformed status and a benign status of cells in culture also need to be established to facilitate our study of the mechanisms for tumor formation and to better link up in vitro data with animal results and eventually with human cancer pathology. © 2011 Landes Bioscience.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)57-67
    Number of pages10
    JournalCell Cycle
    Volume10
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2011

    Keywords

    • c-Myc
    • Cyclin D1
    • Immortalization
    • Oncogene
    • Transformation

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