c-Myc (hereafter Myc) is a basic helix–loop–helix–leucine zipper (bHLHZip) transcription factor that regulates a multitude of cellular processes, including cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, DNA damage response, malignant transformation and apoptosis.7, 10, 14, 16, 20, 48, 49 In normal cells, Myc expression is tightly regulated during the cell cycle but in many cancers control is abrogated, due to chromosomal translocation, mutation or amplification of the myc gene, or as a result of mutations affecting upstream regulatory pathways. The gene discussed is MYC; the disease is cancer.