Phospho-eIF4E: A New Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) is dysregulated in a wide variety of cancers. Higher expression of eIF4E promotes tumorigenesis and has been implicated in cancer development and progression. Regulation of eIF4E is particularly controlled through phosphorylation yielding phospho-eIF4E (p-eIF4E). p-eIF4E is a signaling molecule that participates in several pathways, including regulating various cancer-related processes. The role of phosphorylation of eIF4E at Serine 209 on oncogenic transformation has been appreciated for the last 10 years and has been under active investigation as a therapeutic target for cancers including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the expression of p-eIF4E in the nucleus and the specific molecular mechanism of action remain largely unresolved. It is selectively and highly expressed in AML where its expression was associated with poor outcomes and prognosis. The purpose of this review is to describe p-eIF4E as an indicator prognosis and a potential anticancer target for biological therapy of AML.