A groundbreaking new treatment for cancer has been developed by researchers at the University of California-Riverside. The treatment targets the chaotic protein, MYC, which is linked to 75% of all cancer cases in humans. MYC, known for its pivotal role in cancer progression, becomes hyperactive and unregulated in cancer cells, contributing to the rapid growth of cancer.

Min Xue, an associate professor of chemistry at UC Riverside, explains that MYC’s abnormal activity in cancer cells makes it a major contributor to the development of human cancer. The protein, which binds to DNA and promotes cancer progression, has been a challenging target for drug development due to its lack of defined structure.

However, the UC Riverside team has made a significant breakthrough by developing a peptide compound that effectively binds to MYC, inhibiting its cancer-promoting function. This achievement is the result of years of research, which began in 2018 and involved altering a peptide’s rigidity and shape to enhance its interaction with structureless proteins like MYC.

The development of this novel method to control MYC offers new hope in the fight against cancer. By suppressing MYC’s hyperactivity, the treatment could potentially revolutionize cancer therapy and improve outcomes for patients. The groundbreaking research conducted at UC Riverside has the potential to significantly impact the field of cancer treatment and bring new possibilities for combating this devastating disease.

As the scientific community continues to make strides in understanding and targeting cancer, the discovery of this innovative treatment marks a significant advancement in the ongoing battle against one of the leading causes of death worldwide.