Lost in translation: Dysregulation of cap-dependent translation and cancer

Activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase-Akt pathway has long been associated with malignant transformation and antiapoptotic signaling. Mutations downstream of Akt that activate the TOR kinase are found in tumor-prone syndromes, while overexpression of translation initiation complex components, such as elF4E, occurs frequently in human cancer. However, direct roles for TOR signaling or elF4E overexpression, in the genesis of cancer, have been lacking. Recent papers, including one by Avdulov et al. (2004) in this issue of Cancer Cell, clearly establish that dysregulation of cap-dependent translation confers malignant characteristics and induces cancer by suppressing apoptosis, underscoring the potential of therapeutics that selectively target the Akt-TOR-elF4E pathway.