MYC-Dependent rRNA Catabolism Stress Dictates Survival Heterogeneity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Under Glutamine Deprivation.

High MYC expression drives ribophagy-induced rRNA breakdown, causing cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma under glutamine deprivation, with 70% sensitivity linked to MYC levels.

• Why it matters: Understanding why some tumor cells survive glutamine deprivation while others die is crucial for improving targeted therapies, as heterogeneity limits current treatments.
• What they did: The study identified a MYC-dependent positive feedback loop involving ribophagy and adenosine that determines cell fate, comparing 70 MYC-high and MYC-low hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
• The result: Findings suggest MYC levels predict response to glutaminase inhibitors, and combining glutaminase inhibition with pro-oxidants can eradicate MYC-low tumors, offering a tailored therapeutic approach.