Author Identifier (ORCID)
Yahong Zhu: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8320-0417
Xingang Li: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0252-154X
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the fifth most common cancer worldwide and is the third main cause of cancer-related mortality, posing a substantial burden to global public health. Research suggests that targeted therapy and immunotherapy may become more effective treatment options for advanced, unresectable, or metastatic gastric cancer. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), a small GTP-binding protein within the Rac subfamily of the Rho GTPase family, is a critical molecule that promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis by regulating signal transmission and promoting cell polarity. It has emerged as a key driver of tumor development and metastasis in several malignancies, including breast, lung, prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. This review summarizes the structure, regulatory dynamics, and signaling mechanisms of Rac1 in gastric cancer growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis, as well as the roles of factors such as hypoxia, oxidative stress, and H. pylori infection. Additionally, it highlights small-molecule inhibitors targeting Rac1, miRNAs capable of suppressing Rac1, and ongoing research on Rac1-related immunotherapy. The potential of Rac1 as a therapeutic biomarker in gastric cancer and the remaining challenges in this area are also discussed. This review advances the understanding of Rac1’s role in gastric cancer, provides a theoretical foundation for further studies, and supports the development of precision medicine for this disease.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
12-1-2025
Volume
23
Issue
1
PubMed ID
41188920
Publication Title
Journal of Translational Medicine
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Science / Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute
Funders
13th Five-Year Science and Technology Project of the Jilin Provincial Education Department (JJKH20201088KJ) / Western Australian Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (WANMA/EL2023-24/2, WANMA/Ideas2024-25/5) / Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Li, J., Zhu, Y., Duan, R., Tian, Y., Li, X., & Song, Y. (2025). Rac1 in gastric cancer: A molecular driver of invasion, EMT, and therapeutic resistance. Journal of Translational Medicine, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-07256-x