USP28 also modulates the DNA damage response (DDR) in cancer cells by deubiquitinating and stabilising the checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), the TP53-binding protein 1 (TP53BP1) and Claspin (CLSPN) [6, 7], thereby preventing apoptosis but establishing cell cycle arrest to facilitate DNA repair [8]. Here, USP28 is linked to cancer.