Objective: The emergence of drug resistance brings new challenges to the clinical management of ovarian cancer (OC) patients. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7) on the bevacizumab resistance of OC.
Methods: The mRNA levels of USP7 and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis was used for detecting the protein levels of USP7, PTK2 and fused in sarcoma (FUS). Cell resistance, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and angiogenesis were determined by cell counting kit 8 assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay and tube formation assay. Glucose consumption, lactate production, and ATP/ADP ratio were used to evaluate glycolysis. The interactions between USP7 and PTK2/FUS were detected by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Mice xenograft model was also constructed to explore USP7 roles in vivo.
Results: USP7 was upregulated in OC tissues and bevacizumab-resistant cells. USP7 knockdown or its inhibitor P22077 inhibited the bevacizumab resistance of OC cells via suppressing cell growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and glycolysis. USP7 stabilized PTK2 protein expression via deubiquitinating. PTK2 overexpression reversed the effect of USP7 knockdown on the bevacizumab resistance of OC cells. Besides, FUS stabilized USP7 mRNA to regulate its protein level, and it could affect PTK2 expression by mediating USP7. USP7 knockdown enhanced the sensitivity of OC tumors to bevacizumab in vivo.
Conclusion: FUS-stabilized USP7 enhanced the bevacizumab resistance of OC by deubiquitinating PTK2, providing a new idea for overcoming bevacizumab resistance in OC.
Keywords: Bevacizumab; Ovarian Cancer; Protein Tyrosine Kinase 2; Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 7.
© 2026. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.