MYC and cancer: Since HLH-LZ domains often serve as interaction motif and based on structural similarities between IKK- and c-Myc/Max dimers (Fig. 1b), we hypothesized that IKKs might interact with c-Myc via this domain, providing a molecular link between inflammatory signaling molecules and the central oncogene c-Myc, which is upregulated in a high percentage of cancers.