CancerTranslation2020byTRANSLACORE.pdf

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### [Cancer and Translation: How Cells Read Instructions and What Happens in Cancer](https://cms.translacore.eu/uploads/Cancer_Translation2020by_TRANSLACORE_aed2098f79.pdf)

Authors: Marianna Penzo, Andrea Wandinger, Paola Bellosta and Kellie Dean (M.A.P.K. Team)

This illustrated brochure explains how cells translate genetic information into proteins and how disturbances in this process can contribute to cancer. Designed for a broad audience, it uses a familiar cooking analogy: DNA is the recipe book, mRNA a copied recipe and ribosomes the cellular cooks that produce proteins.

Readers are introduced to the essential roles of proteins in maintaining cell structure, repairing tissues and supporting normal biological functions. The brochure then explores how mutations and changes in protein production can result in altered proteins or excessive amounts of proteins that promote cell growth. These explanations connect basic molecular biology with the importance of translational control in cancer.

The publication also outlines potential therapeutic approaches, including slowing protein synthesis, improving protein quality control and blocking signals that drive cancer cell proliferation. It highlights how research into the protein-making machinery can deepen our understanding of cancer and inform the development of future treatments.

Based on work from COST Action CA21154 TRANSLACORE, this educational resource supports public engagement with research on translation and cancer. It also introduces TRANSLACORE’s European network of scientists and clinicians, whose collaboration across countries and disciplines promotes knowledge exchange and new research ideas aimed at improving patient care. 

Cancer and Translation: How Cells Read Instructions and What Happens in Cancer

This illustrated brochure introduces the links between protein synthesis and cancer for a broad audience. Using the analogy of a recipe book and cellular cooks, it explains how DNA instructions are copied into mRNA and read by ribosomes to produce proteins. It explores how mutations and disrupted control of protein production can contribute to cancer, and introduces potential therapeutic approaches targeting protein synthesis, protein quality control and growth signalling. Developed within COST Action CA21154 TRANSLACORE, the brochure makes key molecular concepts accessible and highlights how collaborative European research can advance our understanding of cancer and inform future treatments.

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Cancer and Translation: How Cells Read Instructions, and What Happens in Cancer

 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation. (www.cost.eu) | The TRANSLACORE Cost Action is bridging disciplines and expertise across Europe in order to advance an emerging field in cancer biology: translational control in cancer. It is providing a unique opportunity to understand this biological process leading to reconsider our view of gene expression control in this disease and deliver novel therapeutic opportunities.

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Cancer and Translation: How Cells Read Instructions, and What Happens in Cancer

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