ISG15 in the tumorigenesis and treatment of cancer: An emerging role in malignancies of the digestive system

// Chaohui Zuo 1,2 , Xinyi Sheng 2 , Min Ma 1 , Man Xia 3 and Linda Ouyang 3 1 Department of Gastroduodenal and Pancreatic Surgery, Translation Medicine Research Center of Liver Cancer, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China 2 Graduate School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China 3 Laboratory of Digestive Oncology, Hunan Province Cancer Institute, Changsha, Hunan, China Correspondence to: Chaohui Zuo, email: // Keywords : interferon-stimulated gene 15; interferon; tumorigenesis; digestive system; cancer Received : May 10, 2016 Accepted : September 01, 2016 Published : September 08, 2016 Abstract The interferon-stimulated gene 15 ubiquitin-like modifier ( ISG15 ) encodes an IFN-inducible, ubiquitin-like protein. The ISG15 protein forms conjugates with numerous cellular proteins that are involved in a multitude of cellular functions, including interferon-induced immune responses and the regulation of cellular protein turnover. The expression of ISG15 and ISG15-mediated conjugation has been implicated in a wide range of human tumors and cancer cell lines, but the roles of ISG15 in tumorigenesis and responses to anticancer treatments remain largely unknown. In this review, we discuss the findings of recent studies with regard to the role of ISG15 pathways in cancers of the digestive system.