Ubiquitin-specific protease 24: a potential anti-cancer target

Ubiquitin-specific protease 24 (USP24) is a deubiquitinase that regulates protein stability, localization, and activity, exhibiting pronounced tissue-specific functions. Depending on the tumor context, USP24 can act either as an oncogene or suppressor, reflecting its strong dependence on tissue-specific substrates and signaling environments. Its dual roles in DNA damage repair and autophagy further underscore its functional complexity. This review summarizes the structural features of USP24, its diverse cellular functions, and its involvement in cancer and other diseases, and highlights recent advances in USP24 inhibitors. Targeting USP24 represents a novel and clinically relevant strategy, capable of selectively modulating its tissue-dependent activities, thereby offering potential avenues for therapeutic intervention and clinical translation across multiple disease contexts.