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Updated: Oct 27, 2025

SUMO-Binding Entities SUBEs as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer
08:29

SUMO-Binding Entities SUBEs as Tools for the Enrichment, Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of the SUMO Proteome in Liver Cancer

Published on: November 1, 2019

7.3K

Targeting SUMOylation in cancer

Li Du1, Wei Liu1, Steven T Rosen2

  • 1Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center.

Current Opinion in Oncology
|July 19, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation is crucial in cancer progression, impacting metastasis, therapy resistance, and immune response. Targeting SUMOylation with inhibitors shows promise for improving cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • SUMOylation regulates critical cellular processes like gene transcription, DNA repair, cell cycle, and immunity.
  • Aberrant SUMOylation pathway enzyme levels are associated with various cancers, correlating with disease progression and adverse patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted role of SUMOylation in tumorigenesis and cancer progression.
  • To discuss SUMOylation's involvement in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and antitumor immunity.
  • To explore the clinical potential of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on SUMOylation in cancer.
  • Analysis of SUMOylation's regulatory mechanisms in key cancer processes.
  • Examination of clinical data and trials related to SUMOylation inhibitors.

Main Results:

  • SUMOylation significantly influences EMT and metastasis by modulating key proteins like E-Cadherin and Snail.
  • SUMOylation is implicated in resistance to chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
  • SUMOylation regulates antitumor immune responses involving dendritic cells and T cells.
  • The first-in-class SUMO E1 inhibitor, TAK-981, has advanced to clinical trials.

Conclusions:

  • SUMOylation is a critical player in tumor EMT, metastasis, therapy resistance, and immune evasion.
  • Targeting SUMOylation pathways represents a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance existing cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

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