STAM-binding protein regulates melanoma metastasis through SLUG stabilization

STAM-binding protein, STAMBP, is a JAMM-family deubiquitinating enzyme containing the microtubule-interacting/transport domain and STAM-binding domain. Although the biological importance of STAMBP in development has been recognized because the microcephaly-capillary malformation syndrome in human is caused by its somatic mutations, the role of STAMBP in cancer has not yet been determined. In this study, we demonstrate that STAMBP is a key molecule for regulating melanoma migration and invasion, but not survival, by knocking down STAMBP in vitro. STAMBP regulates SLUG expression through a post-transcriptional mechanism to control protein stability and further contributes to the in vivo metastatic potential of melanoma. Collectively, these results indicate the importance of STAMBP in melanoma metastasis by regulating SLUG. It is therefore a potential therapeutic target.