The prognostic value of USP14 and PSMD14 expression in non-small cell lung cancer

  • Ann Transl Med. 2021 Jun;9(12):1019. doi: 10.21037/atm-21-2748.
Jian Lei  1  2 ,  Xiaoliu Liu  3 ,  Wei Liu  2 ,  Yun Zhang  2 ,  Zhihong Liu  2
Affiliations
  • 1. Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Municipal and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Modification and Degradation, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 2. Department of Pathology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 3. Department of Hematology and Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Changsha and The Affiliated Changsha hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
PMID: 34277819 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-2748
Abstract

Background: Ubiquitin specific peptidase 14 (USP14) and Proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase 14 (PSMD14) are two deubiquitinases that are closely related to the human 19S Proteasome. These are highly expressed in various types of cancers and are associated with prognosis. However, the expression, clinicopathological features, and prognostic relevance of these two deubiquitinases remain unclear in patients with non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC). Moreover, the correlation between the expression of these two deubiquitinases in NSCLC has not been reported.

Methods: In this study, the expression of USP14 and PSMD14 in NSCLC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemical staining. The association of these two deubiquitinases with the clinicopathological features and overall survival (OS) of patients with NSCLC was evaluated meanwhile.

Results: The expression of USP14 and PSMD14 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues. High expression of both these deubiquitinases was positively correlated with the TNM stage of NSCLC. In addition, PSMD14 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. The survival analysis showed that elevated levels of USP14 or PSMD14 were associated with poorer survival of NSCLC patients compared with low expression of USP14 or PSMD14. COX regression analysis indicated that TNM stage, USP14, and PSMD14 were independent prognostic factors for OS in NSCLC.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that USP14 and PSMD14 may play important roles in the progression of NSCLC, especially when they are expressed simultaneously at elevated levels. Thus, USP14 and PSMD14 may be potential novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the prognosis and treatment of patients with NSCLC.

Keywords
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); combined expression; deubiquitinase; proteasome 26S subunit, non-ATPase 14 (PSMD14); ubiquitin specific peptidase 14 (USP14).