AUTHOR=Sabatini Maria Elisa , Compagnoni Micaela , Maffini Fausto , Miccolo Claudia , Pagni Fabio , Lombardi Mariano , Brambilla Virginia , Lepanto Daniela , Tagliabue Marta , Ansarin Mohssen , Citro Simona , Chiocca Susanna 

TITLE=The UBC9/SUMO pathway affects E-cadherin cleavage in HPV-positive head and neck cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.940449

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2022.940449

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>Functional loss of E-cadherin is frequent during tumor progression and occurs through a variety of mechanisms, including proteolytic cleavage. E-cadherin downregulation leads to the conversion of a more malignant phenotype promoting Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The UBC9/SUMO pathway has been also shown to be involved in the regulation of EMT in different cancers. Here we found an increased expression of UBC9 in the progression of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) and uncovered a role for UBC9/SUMO in hampering the HPV-mediated E-cadherin cleavage in HNC.</p>