Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) is a highly conserved DEAD-box RNA helicase in eukaryotes with ATPase and RNA helicase activities. eIF4A plays an important role in capdependent translation at the initiation of mRNA translation, and carcinoma signal transduction pathways are focused on cap-dependent translation. eIF4A is highly expressed in a variety of cancers, and its high expression is associated with the degree of leukemia progression. Therefore, eIF4A, as a target for tumor therapy, has become a hot research topic. Many small-molecule inhibitors targeting eIF4A have been demonstrated in preclinical cancer model trials. The purpose of this review is to describe the function of eIF4A and the development of eIF4A targeting inhibitors.

真核翻译起始因子 4A (eIF4A) 是真核生物中高度保守的 DEAD-box RNA 解旋酶，具有 ATP 酶和 RNA 解旋酶活性。eIF4A 在 mRNA 翻译开始时在帽依赖性翻译中起重要作用，而癌信号转导途径集中在帽依赖性翻译。eIF4A在多种癌症中高表达，其高表达与白血病进展程度相关。因此，eIF4A作为肿瘤治疗的靶点已成为研究热点。许多靶向 eIF4A 的小分子抑制剂已在临床前癌症模型试验中得到证实。本综述的目的是描述 eIF4A 的功能和 eIF4A 靶向抑制剂的开发。