Skip to main content
. 2021 Oct 4;10(10):2652. doi: 10.3390/cells10102652

Figure 6.

Figure 6

USP28 acts as an oncogene in tumors with p53 functional genetic alterations. (A) In somatic cells, the expression of oncogenic USP28 substrates is quite reduced and it is possible to consider USP28 a tumor-suppressor gene. In p53 wildtype (WT) cancer cells, the role of USP28 is not clear and might be determined by the expression and the genetic status of USP28 substrates. In p53 deleted (Del.) or mutant (Mut.) cancer cells, the pro-apoptotic function of CHK2 cannot be accomplished and the stabilization CHK2 by USP28 will not have functional consequences as tumor suppressor. In consequence USP28 acts as an oncogene in p53 deleted (Del.) or mutant (Mut.) cells. (B) In SCC cancer cells, the expression of oncogenic USP28 substrates c-MYC, c-JUN, NOTCH1 and ∆Np63 is high and p53 is frequently deleted or mutated. Accordingly, USP28 is an oncoprotein in squamous tumors. TS = Tumor suppressor; Onc = Oncogene.