Therapeutic targeting nudix hydrolase 1 creates a MYC-driven metabolic vulnerability

Tumor cells must rewire nucleotide synthesis to satisfy the demands of unbridled proliferation. Meanwhile, they exhibit augmented reactive oxygen species (ROS) production which paradoxically damages DNA and free dNTPs. How these metabolic processes are integrated to fuel tumorigenesis remains to be investigated. MYC family oncoproteins are central regulators that coordinate nucleotide synthesis and ROS generation to drive the development of numerous human cancers. We herein performed a CRISPR-based functional screen targeting metabolic genes and identified nudix hydrolase 1 (NUDT1) as a MYC-driven metabolic dependency.