Functional plasticity of RNA-binding proteins in cancer: both friend and foe

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) govern RNA-based post-transcriptional processes that generate the abundance and diversity of the proteome. RBPs have recently emerged as crucial cancer regulators that can influence multiple cancer hallmarks. However, many RBPs display remarkable variations across different tumor types and can exert both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive effects. These opposing roles are often attributed to context-dependency, but there is a distinct lack of clarity regarding what aspects of cellular context define the differences in the roles of RBPs. Given the recent development of RBP-targeted interventions, resolving this significant gap in the field could improve the selectivity and specificity of RBP biomarkers and therapies in cancer. This review analyzes recent findings and explores the mechanisms by which the functional plasticity of RBPs in tumorigenesis may arise.