Mengjie Zhao,1,2,* Jielong Li,1,2,* Rui Wang,1,2 Lida Mi,1,2 Yan Gu,2 Rongjin Chen,1 Yangyang Li,1,2 Woda Shi,2 Yajun Zhang2 

1Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital 6 of Nantong University, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Yancheng Third People’s Hospital, Yancheng, 224000, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Woda Shi; Yajun Zhang, Email ycsyswd@vip.163.com; 13770067799@163.com

Abstract: UBE2C (Ubiquitination-binding enzyme 2C), one of the E2 enzymes encoded in the human genome, is a component of the ubiquitin proteasome system and plays a pivotal role in regulating cell cycle progression. Moreover, UBE2C is highly expressed and may play a pivotal role in both high-incidence and high-mortality malignancies, including lung cancers, breast cancers, and esophageal cancers. UBE2C influences a number of key processes, including cell cycle progression, tumor invasion and metastasis, proliferation, and drug resistance. However, few articles have systematically summarized the role of UBE2C in cancer. The aim of this review is to describe the structure and function of UBE2C, focusing on the current status of UBE2C research in malignant tumors. Furthermore, this review presents the potential of UBE2C as a new therapeutic target and a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Finally, future research directions for UBE2C are proposed. It is of great value to explore the mechanism of action of UBE2C in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A comprehensive and coherent comprehension of UBE2C will undoubtedly facilitate its transition from fundamental research to clinical applications.

Keywords: UBE2C, Biomarker, Therapeutic target, Prognosis, Invasion