Tripartite motif family – its role in tumor progression and therapy resistance: a review

Abstract

Purpose of review In this review, we summarized published articles on the role of tripartite motif (TRIM) family members in the initiation and development of human malignancies. Recent findings The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UP-S) plays a critical role in cellular activities, and UP-S dysregulation contributes to tumorigenesis. One of the key regulators of the UP-S is the tripartite motif TRIM protein family, most of which are active E3 ubiquitin ligases. TRIM proteins are critical for the biological functions of cancer cells, including migration, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Therefore, it is important to understand how TRIM proteins function at the molecular level in cancer cells. Summary We provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview about the role TRIMs play in cancer progression and therapy resistance. We propose TRIM family members as potential new markers and targets to overcome therapy failure.