The ubiquitin system: orchestrating cellular signals in non-small-cell lung cancer

Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2020 Jan 16:25:1. doi: 10.1186/s11658-019-0193-6. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The ubiquitin system, known as a common feature in eukaryotes, participates in multiple cellular processes, such as signal transduction, cell-cycle progression, receptor trafficking and endocytosis, and even the immune response. In lung cancer, evidence has revealed that aberrant events in ubiquitin-mediated processes can cause a variety of pathological outcomes including tumorigenesis and metastasis. Likewise, ubiquitination on the core components contributing to the activity of cell signaling controls bio-signal turnover and cell final destination. Given this, inhibitors targeting the ubiquitin system have been developed for lung cancer therapies and have shown great prospects for clinical application. However, the exact biological effects and physiological role of the drugs used in lung cancer therapies are still not clearly elucidated, which might seriously impede the progress of treatment. In this work, we summarize current research advances in cell signal regulation processes mediated through the ubiquitin system during the development of lung cancer, with the hope of improving the therapeutic effects by means of aiming at efficient targets.

Keywords: Cell signaling; Deubiquitination; Lung cancer; Ubiquitin; Ubiquitination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Endocytosis / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin / chemistry
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination* / genetics
  • raf Kinases / genetics
  • raf Kinases / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / genetics
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • raf Kinases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • ras Proteins