Unraveling the mechanisms of ubiquitin-specific proteases in hepatocellular carcinoma: A focus on inhibitors.

Due to heterogeneity and the development of drug resistance, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients still benefit minimally from current treatment methods. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have reported the presence of abnormal ubiquitination modifications in HCC. Therefore, exploring the underlying regulatory mechanisms and developing effective interventions hold the promise of providing new treatment options for HCC patients. This article focuses on the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUB) that play a promoting role in the occurrence and development of HCC, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and related small molecule interventions, with the aim of providing new strategies for the treatment of HCC.