Abstract The protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) heterotrimer PP2A-B56 is a human tumor suppressor. However, the molecular mechanisms inhibiting PP2A-B56in cancer are poorly understood. Here, we report molecular level details and structural mechanism of PP2A-B56inhibition by an oncoprotein CIP2A. Upon direct binding to PP2A-B56 trimer, CIP2A replaces PP2A-A subunit and thereby hijacks both the B56 and the catalytic PP2Ac subunit to form a CIP2A-B56-PP2Ac pseudotrimer. Further, CIP2A competes with B56 substrate binding by blocking the LxxIxE-motif substrate binding pocket on B56. Relevant to oncogenic activity of CIP2A across human cancers, the N-terminal head domain-mediated interaction with B56 stabilizes CIP2A protein. Functionally, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated single amino acid mutagenesis of the head domain blunted MYC expression and MEK phosphorylation, and abrogated triple-negative breast cancer in vivo tumor growth. Collectively, we discover a unique multi-step “hijack and mute” mechanism of protein complex regulation inhibiting tumor suppressor PP2A-B56. Further, the results unfold single structural determinant for CIP2A´s oncogenic activity, potentially facilitating therapeutic modulation of CIP2A in cancer and other diseases.