Oncogene c‑Myc: From molecular mechanism to targeted therapy (Review)

c‑Myc, a member of the MYC family, is an extensively studied proto‑oncogenic transcription factor that plays crucial roles in various biological processes of tumor cells, including proliferation, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, metabolic reprogramming, differentiation and genomic maintenance. Furthermore, in cancer therapeutics, c‑Myc may serve as a key factor influencing targeted drug efficacy and tumor drug resistance. This review comprehensively summarizes the structural characteristics of c‑Myc and its roles and key molecular mechanisms across various malignancies, as well as current strategies for c‑Myc‑targeted therapies and related clinical trials. Additionally, the existing challenges in c‑Myc research are discussed and future research directions are being outlined. The synthesis aims to provide novel insights for fundamental research, offer new perspectives for precision cancer therapy in clinical practice and ultimately bring renewed hope for cancer treatment.