The Role of UFMylation in the Development and Progression of Gastric Cancer

Gastric Cancer (GC) is a highly prevalent and poorly prognostic gastrointestinal malignancy with low overall treatment efficacy worldwide. Early diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for GC treatment are urgently needed. UFMylation, a novel ubiquitin-like modification is indispensable for numerous fundamental cellular processes. Deficiency in this modification is reported to be associated with several human diseases including cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the expression of the key UFMylation components is closely associated with GC cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. Recent clinical studies have further highlighted the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of UFMylation in the clinical management of GC. However, the precise molecular mechanisms through which UFMylation contributes to GC remain largely unclear. This review aims to summarize recent findings on the functional roles of UFMylation in diverse cellular processes, such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, DNA damage response (DDR), protein translation, and quality control pathways, discuss potential underlying mechanisms in GC development and progression, and to explore potential therapeutic implications targeting the UFMylation pathway in GC.