Oral and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are associated with high mortality, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these malignancies are largely unclear. We show that DNA hypermethylation of otubain 2 (OTUB2), a previously recognized oncogene, drives tongue and esophageal SCC initiation and drug resistance. Mechanistically, OTUB2 promotes the deubiquitination and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and subsequently regulates the transcription of calmodulin-like protein 3 (CALML3). Activation of CALML3-mediated mitochondrial calcium signaling promotes oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and the synthesis of phosphatidylserine (PS). In mouse models, orally administered soybean-derived PS inhibits SCC initiation in cells with low OTUB2 expression and increases their sensitivity to chemotherapy. Our study indicates that the OTUB2/STAT1/CALML3/PS axis plays tumor-suppressive roles and shows the potential of PS administration as a strategy for the treatment and prevention of tongue and esophageal SCCs.

OTUB2 exerts tumor-suppressive roles via STAT1-mediated CALML3 activation and increased phosphatidylserine synthesis