Myc supercompetitor cells exploit the NMDA receptor to subdue their wild-type neighbours via cell competition

Abstract

Myc is a major driver of cell growth in many cancers, but direct inhibition of Mycs oncogenic activity has been challenging. Interactions between wild-type and Myc-expressing cells cause Myc cells to acquire supercompetitor behaviour that increases their fitness and enables them to overtake the tissue by killing their wild-type neighbours through TNF-induced cell death during a process called cell competition. Here we report that the competitive behaviour of Myc, RasV12 cells, and normal epithelial cells, critically depends on the NMDA receptor. Myc cells upregulate NMDAR2 (NR2) to gain supercompetitor status and subdue their wild-type neighbours. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic depletion of NR2 changes the supercompetitor status of oncogenic Myc or RasV12 clones into superlosers, resulting in their elimination via cell competition by wild-type neighbours in a TNF-dependent manner. Our data demonstrate that that the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) determines cellular fitness during cell competition, and can be targeted to change the fitness landscape of supercompetitive Myc and RasV12 clones, converting them into superlosers.