Abstract: The proteasome is a multi-protein complex capable of regulating the stability of hundreds of cellular proteins involved in almost all cellular processes.In most cases,proteins must be linked to a chain of ubiquitin molecules in order to be recognized and processed by the proteasome.The ubiquitin-proteasome system(UPS) regulates cell proliferation,apoptosis,angiogenesis and motility,processes that are particularly important in carcinogenesis.There is growing evidence that alterations in the UPS are associated with malignancy.Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has a high incidence and a poor treatment prognosis in China and Southeast Asia.Therefore,we summarize the current literature on the involvement of UPS in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to highlight its role in tumor development and to provide information for the study of therapeutic targets.

Key words: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ubiquitin-proteasome system