OTUD4: A Potential Prognosis Biomarker for Multiple Human Cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Deubiquitinase OTU domain containing 4 (OTUD4) is a K48-specific deubiquitinase involved in DNA damage repair.
• The role of OTUD4 in human cancers, including its expression, prognostic significance, and biological functions, remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression level, prognostic value, and biological function of OTUD4 in various human cancers.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of OTUD4 in cancer, particularly its association with the AKT signaling pathway.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of OTUD4 mRNA expression and prognostic value using the GEPIA and TCGA databases.
• Functional assays (MTT, Transwell, 3D culture) to assess OTUD4's role in breast, liver, and lung cancer cells.
• Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to explore the correlation between OTUD4 and apoptosis and AKT signaling pathways.

Main Results:

• OTUD4 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated across multiple human cancer types.
• Lower OTUD4 expression correlated with poor prognosis in breast, esophageal, liver, lung, and ovarian cancers.
• OTUD4 overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion in breast, liver, and lung cancer cells by inhibiting the AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusions:

• OTUD4 functions as a tumor suppressor in breast, liver, and lung cancers.
• OTUD4 overexpression inhibits cancer progression via promoting apoptosis and suppressing the AKT pathway.
• OTUD4 represents a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for multiple human cancers.