STUB1 (CHIP) – a prognostic marker in cancer

Abstract

STUB1, also known as CHIP (C-terminus of Hsc70-Interacting Protein), plays a vital role in cellular protein homeostasis through its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Recent evidence suggests that STUB1 (CHIP) is implicated in various cancer types, influencing tumorigenesis by regulating the degradation of oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins, viz., c-Myc, PTEN, p53 etc. This study investigates the prognostic value of STUB1 across multiple cancers through a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis utilizing large public databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and further validation of results in multiple cancer cell lines. Our analysis reveals distinct expression patterns of STUB1 (CHIP) across different cancer types and highlights its correlation with clinical outcomes. In certain cancers, high STUB1 (CHIP) expression is associated with worse prognosis, likely due to its role in degrading tumor suppressor proteins. Conversely, in other cancer types, low STUB1 (CHIP) expression correlates with poor survival, possibly due to impaired degradation of oncogenic factors. The study provides crucial insights into the dual roles of STUB1 (CHIP) in several cancer types, establishing it as a potential prognostic marker. Our investigation into the contextual role of STUB1 (CHIP) within human tissue samples, employing immunoblotting and complementary assays, highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for restoring protein homeostasis and modulating cancer progression. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to comprehensively elucidate the mechanisms by which STUB1 (CHIP) regulates tumorigenesis across various cancer types.