The role of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase-like 1 in cancer

This integrative review aims to highlight the importance of investigating the functional role of AHCYL1, also known as IRBIT, in cancer cells. It has recently been suggested that AHCYL1 regulates cell survival/death, stemness capacity, and the host adaptive response to the tumor microenvironment. Despite this knowledge, the role of AHCYL1 in cancer is still controversial, probably due to its ability to interact with multiple factors in a tissue-specific manner. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the functional interplay between the tumor and the tumor microenvironment that controls the expression of AHCYL1 could provide a deeper comprehension of the regulation of tumor development. Addressing how AHCYL1 modulates cellular plasticity processes in a tumoral context is potentially relevant to developing translational approaches in cancer biology. •AHCYL1 participates in many cellular processes, including development and cell death.•AHCYL1 interacts with different partners.•AHCYL1 exerts different roles depending on the cellular context.•In pathological situations such as in cancer cells, AHCYL1's role is controversial.•AHCYL1 might be a link between metabolism and cell fate.