Role of eIF4A1 in triple‐negative breast cancer stem‐like cell‐mediated drug resistance

In cap‐dependent translation, the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A1) is an mRNA helicase is involved in unwinding of the secondary structure, such as the stem‐loops, at the 5′‐leader regions of the key oncogenic mRNAs. This facilitates ribosomal scanning and translation of the oncogenic mRNAs. eIF4A1 has a regulatory role in translating many oncoproteins that have vital roles in several steps of metastases. Sridharan et. al. have discovered and provide a novel insight into how eIF4A1 can play a regulatory role in drug resistance by influencing the levels of pluripotent Yamanaka transcription factors and ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) stem‐like cells. These findings may help us understand the molecular underpinnings of chemoresistance, especially in established metastases in TNBC. Importantly, eIF4A1 may form a novel clinical target in metastatic TNBC and the drug eFT226 from Effector Therapeutics targeting eIF4A1 is already in phase1‐2 clinical trial.