Researchers have discovered that the cancer-related protein MYC does more than drive rapid tumor growth. It also helps cancer cells repair damaged DNA, including the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiation. By recruiting DNA repair machinery directly to broken DNA, MYC enables tumors to recover and continue growing despite treatment. This finding may explain why aggressive cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, are often resistant to therapy. Scientists believe that blocking MYC’s repair function could make cancer cells far more vulnerable to existing treatments and improve outcomes for patients.
