The role of the deubiquitinating enzyme DUB3/USP17 in cancer: a narrative review

• Main Authors: Guang-Fei Yang, Xin Zhang, Yi-Ge Su, Ren Zhao, Yan-Yang Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021-08-01
• Series: Cancer Cell International
• Subjects: DUB3/USP17; Cancer; Ubiquitination; Deubiquitinating enzymes; Signaling pathways
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-02160-y

Abstract The balance between ubiquitination and deubiquitination is critical for the degradation, transport, localization, and activity of proteins. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) greatly contribute to the balance of ubiquitination and deubiquitination, and they have been widely studied due to their fundamental role in cancer. DUB3/ubiquitin-specific protease 17 (USP17) is a type of DUB that has attracted much attention in cancer research. In this review, we summarize the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of USP17 in central nervous system, head and neck, thoracic, breast, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and gynecologic cancers as well as bone and soft tissue sarcomas, and we provide new insights into how USP17 can be used in the management of cancer.