YAP/TAZ-Hippo pathway mediates the tumorigenesis of various cancers through post-translational modification represented by ubiquitination

The Hippo signalling pathway, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism, plays a crucial role in developmental biology, including organ growth, development, embryogenesis, and tissue regeneration [ 1 ]. Given its central role in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation, its involvement in tumorigenesis is a logical extension. Substantial evidence highlights the pathway’s critical contributions to cancer invasion, progression, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance [ 2 ]. As a key regulatory axis in human cancers, the Yes-associated protein (YAP)/TAZ-Hippo pathway influences the development and outcomes of various malignancies. In breast cancer (BC), hyperactivation of TAZ drives luminal cells toward a basal phenotype, leading to the onset of basal-like BC, the most aggressive subtype of the disease [ 3 ]. In glioblastoma (GBM), the Hippo/TAZ axis promotes angiogenesis through the release of vascular endothelial growth factor C [ 4 ]. Similarly, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), TAZ enhances cancer stemness by activating the transcription factor SOX2 [ 5 ]. These findings underscore the YAP/TAZ-Hippo axis as a pan-cancer driver.