Translational Recoding in Tumors

Protein synthesis is tightly regulated in cells; however, in cancer, ribosomes deviate from canonical translation, generating altered protein products. These deviations arise from cell-intrinsic alterations, as well as extrinsic pressures within the tumor microenvironment, collectively reshaping the translational landscape and reducing translation fidelity. Translational recoding in cancer expands proteome diversity and promotes tumor fitness by enhancing stress adaptation, metabolic, and phenotypic plasticity. At the same time, recoding events generate peptides that are often presented as tumor-specific antigens, thereby eliciting immune responses against cancer. Accordingly, therapeutic strategies that modulate translational fidelity and induce recoding are emerging to enhance tumor immunogenicity and improve immunotherapy responses. Here, we examine the drivers and consequences of translational recoding in cancer, its dual role in promoting tumor adaptation while shaping immune surveillance, and its potential as a targetable vulnerability in cancer therapy.