Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
Published on: June 6, 2025
Translation initiation factors and their relevance in cancer
Columba de la Parra1, Beth A Walters1, Phillip Geter1
1Department of Microbiology and Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Abstract:
Deregulation of several translation initiation factors occurs in numerous types of cancers. Translation initiation factors are not merely ancillary players in cancer development and progression, but rather, they are key participants in cellular transformation and tumor development. In fact, the altered expression of translation initiation factors is involved in cancer cell survival, metastasis and tumor angiogenesis. Although the exact mechanisms remain to be fully characterized, translation initiation factors comprise novel targets for pharmacologic intervention. Here we review the most recently established roles of initiation factors in cancer development and progression, as well as unique methods used to study translational regulation.
Insights
Altered translation initiation factors are key drivers in cancer development, impacting cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. These factors represent promising novel targets for cancer pharmacologic intervention.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Deregulation of translation initiation factors is a common hallmark in various cancers.
- These factors play critical roles beyond ancillary support, actively participating in cellular transformation and tumor progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the established roles of translation initiation factors in cancer development and progression.
- To highlight novel therapeutic targets and methods for studying translational regulation in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on translation initiation factors in cancer.
- Analysis of the involvement of these factors in cancer cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis.
- Examination of unique methodologies for investigating translational control.
Main Results:
- Translation initiation factors are integral to cancer cell survival, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis.
- Altered expression of these factors is implicated in tumor development and progression.
- These factors represent emerging targets for pharmacological treatments.
Conclusions:
- Translation initiation factors are critical mediators in oncogenesis.
- Targeting translation initiation factors offers a promising avenue for novel cancer therapies.
- Further research into their mechanisms and study methods is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Translation
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Proteins are...
Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of...
Leaky Scanning
Initiation of Translation
First, the initiator tRNA must be selected from the pool of elongator tRNAs by eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2). The initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAi) has conserved sequence elements including modified bases at...
Initiation of Translation
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...

