Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jan 15, 2024; 16(1): 197-213
Published online Jan 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i1.197
Comprehensive analysis of the role of ubiquitin-specific peptidases in colorectal cancer: A systematic review
Eman Al-Balushi, Amina Al Marzouqi, Shima Tavoosi, Amir Hossein Baghsheikhi, Arash Sadri, Leyla Sharifi Aliabadi, Mohammad-Mahdi Salarabedi, Syed Azizur Rahman, Nabeel Al-Yateem, Alireza Mosavi Jarrahi, Aram Halimi, Mohammad Ahmadvand, Wael M Abdel-Rahman
Eman Al-Balushi, Amina Al Marzouqi, Syed Azizur Rahman, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Shima Tavoosi, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran
Amir Hossein Baghsheikhi, Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 11365/4435, Iran
Arash Sadri, Students’ Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416634793, Iran
Leyla Sharifi Aliabadi, Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology, and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416634793, Iran
Mohammad-Mahdi Salarabedi, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
Nabeel Al-Yateem, Department of Nursing, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Alireza Mosavi Jarrahi, Aram Halimi, Cancer Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1983969411, Iran
Mohammad Ahmadvand, Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology, and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran 1416634793, Iran
Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Co-corresponding authors: Mohammad Ahmadvand and Wael M Abdel-Rahman.
Author contributions: Al-Balushi E, Halimi A, Tavoosi S, and Baghsheikhi AH searched the databases and performed screening and data extraction; Ahmadvand M, Abdel-Rahman WM, Jarrahi AM, Al-Marzouqi A, Al-Yateem N, and Rahman SA supervised this project; Al-Balushi E, Tavoosi S, Baghsheikhi AH, Sadri A, Halimi A, Salarabedi MM, and Aliabadi LS wrote the manuscript; Abdel-Rahman W proposed the topic and edited the manuscript; All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. Ahmadvand M and Abdel-Rahman WM contributed equally to this work as co-corresponding authors. The reasons for designating Ahmadvand M and Abdel-Rahman WM as co-corresponding authors are threefold. First, the research was performed as a collaborative effort, and the designation of co-corresponding authorship accurately reflects the distribution of responsibilities and burdens associated with the time and effort required to complete the study and the resultant paper. Second, the overall research team encompassed two subgroups, one at United Arab Emirates and one at Iran, with a variety of expertise and skills from different fields. The designation of co-corresponding authors best reflects this diversity. Third, Ahmadvand M and Abdel-Rahman WM contributed efforts of equal substance throughout the research process. The choice of these researchers as co-corresponding authors acknowledges and respects this equal contribution, while recognizing the spirit of teamwork and collaboration of this study.
Supported by the “Health Economics and Finance Research Group - University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates” and implemented by the West Asian Organization for Cancer Prevention (APOCP's West Asia Chapter).
Conflict-of-interest statement: Dr. Abdel-Rahman has nothing to disclose.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Wael M Abdel-Rahman, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates. whassan@sharjah.ac.ae
Received: September 24, 2023
Peer-review started: September 24, 2023
First decision: October 16, 2023
Revised: November 5, 2023
Accepted: December 7, 2023
Article in press: December 7, 2023
Published online: January 15, 2024
Processing time: 108 Days and 8.3 Hours
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health problem and a leading cause of cancer death. Accumulating evidence shows that ubiquitin-specific peptidases (USPs) play a role in the development and progression of various cancers, including CRCs.

Research motivation

There is a need to identify new therapeutic agents in CRC to tackle the problem of resistance to existing therapy. USPs could be promising targets in this regard.

Research objectives

To provide a systematic review of the available studies on the role of USPs in CRC.

Research methods

Systematic search in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science databases followed by data analysis and discussion.

Research results

We found that USPs play significant roles in several processes and disrupt many pathways in CRC including the cell cycle, apoptosis, cancer stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, metastasis, DNA repair, and drug resistance.

Research conclusions

USPs play a major role in CRC development and progression and contribute to drug resistance in CRC via multiple mechanisms.

Research perspectives

USPs can be used as biomarkers in CRC and many of them can be therapeutic targets that help overcoming resistance to current CRC therapeutics.