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The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is an important protein degradation regulatory system in cells. This pathway is also a reversible process that is strictly regulated, and the regulation of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) represents an important facet of the process. Ovarian tumor-associated proteases domain-containing proteins (OTUDs), as a subfamily within the DUB family, serve an important role in regulatory mechanisms of several biological processes, through the regulation of gene transcription, cell cycle, immune response, inflammation and tumor growth processes, and may be important in the diagnosis of various diseases and constitute novel drug targets. However, the role of OTUDs in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, the Oncomine database was used to examine gene expression in NSCLC, and the prognostic value of each gene was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The results indicated that high mRNA expression levels of OTUD1, OTUD3, OTUD4 and putative bifunctional UDP-N-acetylglucosamine transferase and deubiquitinase ALG13 were associated with improved prognosis in all NSCLC and adenocarcinoma, but not in squamous cell carcinoma. By contrast, high expression levels of OTUD2 mRNA were associated with poorer overall survival in patients with NSCLC. These data suggested that these OTUD isozymes may be a potential drug target for NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone malignancy, and is particularly prevalent in children and adolescents. OS is an aggressive tumor with a tendency to metastasize and invade to para-carcinoma tissues. The primary treatment for this tumor is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, the prognosis remains poor due to chemoresistance and early metastasis. Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional secreted protein, has emerged as an important potential biomarker for diagnosing and treating cancer. The overexpression of OPN has been found in numerous malignant tumors, including breast, lung, gastric and ovarian cancer, as well as melanoma. Recent studies have suggested that OPN may provide an important function in the diagnosis and treatment of OS. The present review summarizes current knowledge and progress in understanding the potential role of OPN as a biomarker in OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]