The Ubiquitin System: An Emerging Therapeutic Target for Lung Cancer

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Sep 6;22(17):9629. doi: 10.3390/ijms22179629.

Abstract

The ubiquitin system, present in all eukaryotes, contributes to regulating multiple types of cellular protein processes such as cell signaling, cell cycle, and receptor trafficking, and it affects the immune response. In most types of cancer, unusual events in ubiquitin-mediated signaling pathway modulation can lead to a variety of clinical outcomes, including tumor formation and metastasis. Similarly, ubiquitination acts as a core component, which contributes to the alteration of cell signaling activity, dictating biosignal turnover and protein fates. As lung cancer acquires the most commonly mutated proteins, changes in the ubiquitination of the proteins contribute to the development of lung cancer. Various inhibitors targeting the ubiquitin system have been developed for clinical applications in lung cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the current research advances in therapeutics for lung cancer by targeting the ubiquitin system.

Keywords: E3 ligase; cell signaling; deubiquitination; lung cancer; ubiquitin; ubiquitination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bortezomib / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination*

Substances

  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Ubiquitin
  • Bortezomib
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases