RNA-binding proteins, multifaceted translational regulators in cancer

•Translational control mediated by RBPs contributes to tumor initiation and progression.•HuR, CPEB and La are RBPs aberrantly expressed or de-regulated in cancer.•HuR, CPEB and La contribute to tumorigenesis by very diverse mechanisms.•High-throughput technology will help define the cancerous RNA-binding proteome.

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) orchestrate transcript fate and function. Even though alterations in post-transcriptional events contribute to key steps of tumor initiation and progression, RBP-mediated control has remained relatively unexplored in cancer. Here, we discuss examples of this promising field focusing on translation regulation, and highlight the variety of molecular mechanisms by which RBPs impinge on translation with consequences for tumorigenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translation and Cancer.