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The MYB gene

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The MYB gene

What is MYB?

The MYB gene codes for a protein that binds to DNA and controls when other genes are turned on or off. The MYB protein plays a crucial role in normal cell development [1, 2].

Why is it important?

The MYB gene is altered in several cancers, including adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). These changes often cause the cell to make too much of the MYB protein or create a new, faulty version of it. This can drive cancer growth and reduce the effectiveness of cancer therapies [2, 3].

What is the evidence?

About half of ACC cases are characterised by a specific genetic rearrangement which joins two genes, MYB and NFIB, into a single gene, MYB-NFIB [1, 4]. This new fusion gene activates other genes that promote cancer and shuts down the body's normal control mechanisms for cell growth [2, 5].

In a large study of over 400 ACC cancers, researchers found that the MYB gene was altered in about three-quarters of the cases, often leading to an excessive amount of the MYB protein [2].

Another study found that high levels of MYB protein caused salivary ACC cells to grow, divide faster, and spread throughout the body, making the cancer more aggressive [5].

Is MYB a potential target for new treatments for ACC?

Yes, since these MYB alterations are a defining feature of ACC, the gene may be a potential target for new treatments [4, 6].

A Phase 1 trial (NCT03287427) for a DNA-based MYB vaccine, tested along with an immunotherapy, has been completed and the results are pending. Separately, a Phase 1 trial (NCT06118086) for a small-molecule drug called REM-422 is now actively recruiting patients.

Useful resources

Read more about how to get your tumour profiled and add to a research biobank here:

References

  1. Bell D, Roberts D, Karpowicz M, Hanna EY, Weber RS, El-Naggar AK. Clinical significance of Myb protein and downstream target genes in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Cancer Biology & Therapy. 2011; 12(7):569-73.
  2. Persson M, Andersson MK, Mitani Y, Brandwein-Weber MS, Frierson HF, Jr., Moskaluk C, et al. Rearrangements, Expression, and Clinical Significance of MYB and MYBL1 in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma: A Multi-Institutional Study. Cancers (Basel). 2022; 14(15).
  3. Anand S, Vikramdeo KS, Sudan SK, Sharma A, Acharya S, Khan MA, et al. From modulation of cellular plasticity to potentiation of therapeutic resistance: new and emerging roles of MYB transcription factors in human malignancies. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2024; 43(1):409-21.
  4. Brayer KJ, Frerich CA, Kang H, Ness SA. Recurrent Fusions in MYB and MYBL1 Define a Common, Transcription Factor-Driven Oncogenic Pathway in Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Cancer Discov. 2016; 6(2):176-87.
  5. Xu LH, Zhao F, Yang WW, Chen CW, Du ZH, Fu M, et al. MYB promotes the growth and metastasis of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Int J Oncol. 2019; 54(5):1579-90.
  6. da Silva FJ, Carvalho de Azevedo J, Jr., Ralph ACL, Pinheiro JJV, Freitas VM, Calcagno DQ. Salivary glands adenoid cystic carcinoma: a molecular profile update and potential implications. Front Oncol. 2023; 13:1191218.

Last Updated December 2025