MYCL

Overview

MYCL (L-MYC) is a member of the MYC family of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. It functions as an oncogene whose amplification is a canonical driver event in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). MYCL amplification is generally mutually exclusive with MYC and MYCN amplification within SCLC tumors, suggesting that dysregulation of a single MYC family member is sufficient for oncogenesis in this context. A recurrent RLF-MYCL gene fusion has also been identified, creating a constitutively active oncogenic driver.

Alterations observed in the corpus

  • Focal amplification in 8% of SCLC tumors; mutually exclusive with MYC and MYCN amplification PMID:22941188
  • Recurrent RLF-MYCL gene fusion identified as a functional oncogene in SCLC PMID:22941189
  • Copy-number amplification confirmed as a recurrent alteration in SCLC (JHU cohort, 36 tumors) PMID:22941189
  • Recurrent focal amplification in SCLC (L-MYC); member of the MYC family amplified in SCLC alongside MYC and MYCN PMID:26168399
  • MYCL identified as a novel amplification target gene in both lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in pan-lung cancer TCGA analysis (n=1144) PMID:27158780
  • MYCL1 (MYCL) amplification was identified by GISTIC analysis as a recurrent focal amplification in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), consistent with prior TCGA findings PMID:28988769

Cancer types (linked)

Co-occurrence and mutual exclusivity

  • Mutually exclusive with MYC amplification and MYCN amplification in SCLC PMID:22941188

Therapeutic relevance

  • No direct targeted therapy; MYC family inhibition (e.g., BET bromodomain inhibitors) is an active area of investigation in SCLC.

Open questions

  • Whether RLF-MYCL fusions and MYCL amplification represent distinct oncogenic mechanisms with different clinical behaviors remains unclear.

Sources

This page was processed by crosslinker on 2026-05-14. - PMID:26168399

This page was processed by crosslinker on 2026-05-14. - PMID:27158780

This page was processed by wiki-cli on 2026-05-14. - PMID:28988769

This page was processed by wiki-cli on 2026-05-15.