An integrative pan-cancer analysis of biological and clinical impacts underlying ubiquitin-specific-processing proteases

Oncogene. 2020 Jan;39(3):587-602. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-1002-4. Epub 2019 Sep 11.

Abstract

Ubiquitin-specific-processing proteases (USPs), the largest deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) subfamily, play critical roles in cancer. However, clinical utility of USPs is hindered by limited knowledge about their varied and substrate-dependent actions. Here, we performed a comprehensive investigation on pan-cancer impacts of USPs by integrating multi-omics data and annotated data resources, especially a deubiquitination network. Meaningful insights into the roles of 54 USPs in 29 types of cancers were generated. Although rare mutations were observed, a majority of USPs exhibited significant expressional alterations, prognostic impacts and strong correlations with cancer hallmark pathways. Notably, from our DUB-substrate interaction prediction model, additional USP-substrate interactions (USIs) were recognized to complement knowledge gap about cancer-relevant USIs. Intriguingly, expression signatures of the USIs revealed clinically meaningful cancer subtypes, where key USPs and substrates cooperatively contributed to significant prognosis differences among subtypes. Overall, this investigation provides a valuable resource to assist mechanism research and clinical utility about USPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Data Mining
  • Datasets as Topic
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Ubiquitin-Specific Proteases