Published online Feb 15, 2016. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v8.i2.198
Peer-review started: May 4, 2015
First decision: September 25, 2015
Revised: October 25, 2015
Accepted: November 13, 2015
Article in press: November 17, 2015
Published online: February 15, 2016
Processing time: 280 Days and 18.2 Hours
The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is important for the degradation of proteins in eukaryotic cells. It is involved in nearly every cellular process and plays an important role in maintaining body homeostasis. An increasing body of evidence has linked alterations in the UPS to gastrointestinal malignancies, including esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancers. Here, we summarize the current literature detailing the involvement of the UPS in gastrointestinal cancer, highlighting its role in tumor occurrence and development, providing information for therapeutic targets research and anti-gastrointestinal tumor drug design.
Core tip: The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is involved in almost every cellular process, playing an important role in maintaining body homeostasis. Increasing evidence indicates that alterations in the UPS are correlated with gastrointestinal malignancies. Here, we review current information describing UPS members involved in gastrointestinal cancer, providing a resource for further study and clinical application.