Novel post-translational modifications in cancer

Abstract The increasing incidence of cancer highlights the urgency for a deeper understanding of its complex pathogenesis. Recent research has identified novel post-translational modifications (PTMs) as key contributors to cancer. This review examines the role of emerging PTMs, including lactylation, crotonylation, methacrylation, succinylation, sulfhydration, β-hydroxybutyrylation, and 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, in cancer development. We provide a comprehensive review of these novel PTMs, and their impact on proteins involved in tumor progression. Additionally, we summarize the associated enzymes, proteins, and signaling pathways, showcase the latest preclinical studies on PTMs in cancer, and offer insights into future research directions. Investigating these modifications is expected to facilitate the development of innovative and patient-centric therapies, marking a significant advancement in cancer research.