Ribosome biogenesis: An emerging druggable pathway for cancer therapeutics

Ribosomes are nanomachines essential for protein production in all living cells. Ribosome synthesis increases in cancer cells to cope with a rise in protein synthesis and sustain unrestricted growth. This increase in ribosome biogenesis is reflected by severe morphological alterations of the nucleolus, the cell compartment where the initial steps of ribosome biogenesis take place. Ribosome biogenesis has recently emerged as an effective target in cancer therapy, and several compounds that inhibit ribosome production or function, killing preferentially cancer cells, have entered clinical trials. Recent research indicates that cells express heterogeneous populations of ribosomes and that the composition of ribosomes may play a key role in tumorigenesis, exposing novel therapeutic opportunities. Here, we review recent data demonstrating that ribosome biogenesis is a promising druggable pathway in cancer therapy, and discuss future research perspectives.