Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(5): 297-299
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1273762
Hypothesis

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Underexpression of C-myc in Adrenocortical Cancer: A Major Pathogenic Event?

P. M. Szabó1 , K. Rácz1 , P. Igaz1
  • 12ndDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Further Information

Publication History

received 04.11.2011

accepted 21.02.2011

Publication Date:
16 March 2011 (online)

Abstract

The protooncogene c-myc is a major factor in tumourigenesis. Whereas c-myc overexpression is considered to be a general feature of many tumours, we have recently demonstrated c-myc underexpression in adrenocortical cancer by a meta-analysis. We hypothesise that c-myc underexpression might be a central event in adrenortical tumourigenesis based on network topology modelling and previous experimental observations. In this brief hypothesis, we present our arguments and their possible relevance.

References

  • 1 Soucek L, Evan GI. The ups and downs of Myc biology.  Curr Opin Genetics Dev. 2010;  20 91-95
  • 2 Nesbit CE, Tersak JM, Prochownik EV. MYC oncogenes and human neoplastic disease.  Oncogene. 1999;  18 3004-3016
  • 3 Szabó PM, Tamási V, Molnár V, Andrásfalvy M, Tömböl Z, Farkas R, Kövesdi K, Patócs A, Tóth M, Szalai C, Falus A, Rácz K, Igaz P. Meta-analysis of adrenocortical tumor genomics data: novel pathogenic pathways revealed.  Oncogene. 2010;  29 3163-3172
  • 4 Giordano TJ, Kuick R, Else T, Gauger PG, Vinco M, Bauersfeld J, Sanders D, Thomas DG, Doherty G, Hammer G. Molecular classification and prognostication of adrenocortical tumors by transcriptome profiling.  Clin Cancer Res. 2009;  15 668-676
  • 5 de Reyniès A, Assié G, Rickman DS, Tissier F, Groussin L, René-Corail F, Dousset B, Bertagna X, Clauser E, Bertherat J. Gene expression profiling reveals a new classification of adrenocortical tumors and identifies molecular predictors of malignancy and survival.  J Clin Oncol. 2009;  27 1108-1115
  • 6 Tömböl Z, Szabó PM, Molnár V, Wiener Z, Tölgyesi G, Horányi J, Riesz P, Reismann P, Patócs A, Likó I, Gaillard RC, Falus A, Rácz K, Igaz P. Integrative molecular bioinformatics study of human adrenocortical tumors: microRNA, tissue-specific target prediction, and pathway analysis.  Endocr Relat Cancer.. 2009;  16 895-906
  • 7 Barabasi AL, Albert R. Emergence of scaling in random networks.  Science. 1999;  286 509-512
  • 8 Crucitti, Latora V, Marchiori M. Model for cascading failures in complex networks.  Phys Rev. 2004;  E 69 045104-1–045104-4
  • 9 Liu J, Voutilainen R, Kahri AI, Heikkilä P. Expression patterns of the c-myc gene in adrenocortical tumors and pheochromocytomas.  J Endocrinol. 1997;  152 175-181
  • 10 Heikkilä P, Arola J, Salmi A, Kahri AI. ACTH-induced c-myc proton-oncogene expression precedes antimitogenic effect during differentiation of fetal rat adrenocortical cells.  J Endocrinol. 1995;  145 379-385
  • 11 Liu J, Voutilainen R, Kahri AI, Heikkilä P. Expression of the c-myc gene in human adrenals: regulation by adrenocorticotropin in primary cultures.  J Endocrinol. 1996;  148 523-529
  • 12 Coulter CL. Fetal adrenal development: insight gained from adrenal tumors.  Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2005;  16 235-242
  • 13 Larsson LS, Henriksson MA. The Yin and Yang functions of the Myc oncoprotein in cancer development and as targets for therapy.  Exp Cell Res. 2010;  316 1429-1437
  • 14 Gandarillas A, Watt FM. c-Myc promotes differentiation of human epidermal stem cells.  Genes Dev. 1997;  11 2869-2882
  • 15 Bettess MD, Dubois N, Murphy MJ, Dubey C, Roger C, Robine S, Trumpp A. c-Myc is required for the formation of intestinal crypts but dispensable for homeostasis of the adult intestinal epithelium.  Mol Cell Biol. 2005;  25 7868-7878
  • 16 Toftgard R, Roop DR, Yuspa SH. Proto-oncogene expression during two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin.  Carcinogenesis. 1985;  6 655-657
  • 17 Watson JV, Stewart J, Evan GI, Ritson A, Sikora K. The clinical significance of flow cytometric c-myc oncoprotein quantitation in testicular cancer.  Br J Cancer. 1986;  53 331-337
  • 18 Fassnacht M, Allolio B. Clinical management of adrenocortical carcinoma.  Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;  23 273-289
  • 19 Lepique AP, Moraes Ms, Rocha KM, Eichler CB, Hajj GNM, Schwindt TT, Armelin HA. c-Myc protein is stabilized by fibroblast growth factor 2 and destabilized by ACTH to control cell cycle in mouse Y1 adrenocortical cells.  J Mol Endocrinol. 2004;  33 623-638
  • 20 Baudino TA, McKay C, Pendeville-Samain H, Nilsson JA, Maclean KH, White EL, Davis AC, Ihle JN, Cleveland JL. c-Myc is essential for vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during development and tumor progression.  Genes Dev. 2002;  16 2530-2543
  • 21 Bernini GP, Moretti A, Bonadio AG, Menicagli M, Viacava P, Naccarato AG, Iacconi P, Miccoli P, Salvetti A. Angiogenesis in human normal and pathologic adrenal cortex.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;  87 4961-4965

Correspondence

Dr. P. IgazMD, MSc, PhD 

2nd Department of Medicine

Faculty of Medicine

Semmelweis University

Szentkiralyi street 46

1088 Budapest

Hungary

Phone: +36/1/4591 500

Fax: +36/1/2660 816

Email: igapet@bel2.sote.hu