The ubiquitin-proteasomal system is critical for multiple myeloma: implications in drug discovery

Bortezomib is a specific inhibitor of proteasomes, the most important protease complexes in protein degradation. Bortezomib can induce apoptosis of a variety of cancer cells, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, breast cancers, prostate cancers, lung cancers, and so on. However, extensive studies and overall evaluation suggested that multiple myeloma is the most sensitive and the best responsive disease which was later approved by Food and Drug Administration for bortezomib treatment. Because proteasomes are an essential component in the ubiquitin-proteasomal protein degradation pathway, the discovery of bortezomib implicates that the UPS is critical for myeloma pathophysiology. The UPS also contains ubiquitin, ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2), ubiquitin ligases (E3) and deubiquitinases (Dubs). In this review, we examined and analyzed the recent advancements of the UPS components in multiple myeloma and its implications in drug discovery for myeloma treatment.