Most tumours have deregulated MYC expression caused by various mechanisms including somatic gene amplifications and translocations, mutations that increase MYC protein stability and alterations in upstream pathways that enhance MYC transcription.7 The link between high MYC expression and tumorigenesis is causative, since exogenous expression of MYC in mouse models initiates8 or accelerates9 tumour development. This evidence concerns the gene MYC and neoplasm.