JXE-23, a pimarane-type diterpene, exhibits potent anti-cancer effects in HepG2 liver cancer cells by inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and protective autophagy, and modulating the CIP2A/p-AKT/c-Myc signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a lead compound in anti-cancer drug development. The gene discussed is MYC; the disease is cancer.