This study examined the potential of using the drug ribavirin to target the oncogene eIF4E in breast cancer cells. eIF4E is overexpressed in over 50% of breast cancers and promotes tumor growth. Ribavirin inhibits eIF4E function and reduced proliferation, clonogenic survival, and levels of eIF4E targets like cyclins in several breast cancer cell lines, with varying sensitivity. Ribavirin treatment was also associated with decreased Akt phosphorylation. Analysis of breast cancer biopsies found elevated eIF4E levels compared to normal tissue, supporting further study of ribavirin as a potential breast cancer therapeutic.