The eukaryotic translation elongation factors (EEFs)

i.e.

EEF1A1

EEF1A2

EEF1B2

EEF1D

EEF1G

EEF1E1

and

EEF2

are coding-genes that play a central role in the elongation step of translation but are often altered in cancer. Less investigated are their pseudogenes. Recently

it was demonstrated that pseudogenes have a key regulatory role in the cell

especially via non-coding RNAs

and that the aberrant expression of ncRNAs has an important role in cancer development and progression. The present review paper

for the first time

collects all that published about the EEFs pseudogenes to create a base for future investigations. For most of them

the studies are in their infancy

while for others the studies suggest their involvement in normal cell physiology but also in various human diseases. However

more investigations are needed to understand their functions in both normal and cancer cells and to define which can be useful biomarkers or therapeutic targets.