Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 targeting: Tumor cell erasure, immune engine unleashed.

Abstract

Deubiquitinases regulate key oncogenic and immune pathways but have proven challenging to exploit therapeutically. Among them, ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) has emerged as a molecule of interest due to its involvement in both tumor-intrinsic programs and tumor-immune interactions. In this review, we synthesize current evidence describing how USP22 modulates oncogenic transcriptional states and immune evasion. Tumor-intrinsically, USP22 has been implicated in stabilizing select oncogenic factors and shaping chromatin accessibility in ways that can reinforce proliferation, survival, stem-like properties, and metastatic potential. In parallel, USP22 influences antitumor immunity by modulating MHC-I-mediated antigen presentation, immune checkpoint expression, and the fitness of intratumoral regulatory T cells. We discuss emerging pharmacological approaches to target USP22, the limitations of current inhibitor strategies, and the importance of distinguishing direct enzymatic functions from indirect transcriptional consequences. Together, these insights suggest that USP22 inhibition may offer a therapeutic strategy with dual effects on tumor biology and antitumor immunity.