BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common female malignancies in the world. The ubiquitin-specific protease 8 (USP8) functions by removing ubiquitin from protein substrates, and its potential role in cancer development was recently uncovered in lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and function of USP8 in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining and quantitative PCR were performed to explore the expression of USP8 in both CSCC tissues and adjacent normal cervical tissues. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the clinical significance of USP8 in CSCC. Proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of 2 CSCC cell lines were assessed after overexpression or silencing USP8, respectively.

RESULTS: Both the RNA and protein levels of USP8 were upregulated in CSCC tissues compared to normal cervical tissues. High expression of USP8 was correlated with advanced tumor stage and high recurrence risk. Moreover, USP8 was identified as a novel independent prognostic factor for CSCC patients. Cellular studies showed that USP8 can enhance the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of CSCC cells, thereby promoting tumor progression.

CONCLUSIONS: High expression of USP8 is frequent in CSCC tissues, which promotes tumor proliferation and invasion, and is correlated with a poor overall survival. Targeting USP8 may be a novel direction for drug development for CSCC therapy.