Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3a (eIF3a) is implicated in oncogenesis and has been investigated extensively as a potential biomarker for malignancy.
Ribosome assembly requires correct association of ribosome subunits, which is ensured by eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). eIFs have become targets in cancer therapy studies, and promising data on eIF6 in various cancer entities have been reported.
The data on the role that eIF6 plays in cancer and in insulin sensitivity make it a tempting pharmacological target for cancers and metabolic diseases.
The physiological significance of eIF6 impacts on cancer and on inherited Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome. eIF6 is overexpressed in specific human tumors.