Deubiquitinating enzymes in endometrial cancer and cervical cancer.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the three most common malignancies of the female reproductive system, with its global incidence and disease-related mortality continuing to rise. Cervical cancer (CC), also known as uterine cervical cancer, refers to cancer occurring in the cervix. Despite the development of various therapeutic strategies, patient prognosis and survival rates remain poor due to high rates of metastasis and recurrence. Ubiquitination denotes the process by which ubiquitin is covalently attached to target proteins, while deubiquitinases (DUBs) catalyze the reverse process. Accumulating evidence indicates that dysregulation of deubiquitination plays significant roles in the pathogenesis and progression of both EC and CC. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in DUBs, outlining their intrinsic characteristics, classification, catalytic mechanisms, and modes of activity regulation. Furthermore, it explores the potential mechanisms by which DUB dysregulation contributes to endometrial and cervical carcinogenesis. Additionally, we present the successful application of DUB inhibitors in the treatment of malignancies and provide an analysis of the current research status regarding targeted therapies for EC and CC.