The Emerging Roles of lncRNA GAPLINC as a Promising Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Oncology

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have garnered significant attention recently since they are fundamental to many biological processes, including gene expression, chromatin remodeling, and cell cycle control. Among these, the gastric adenocarcinoma-associated positive CD44 regulator, long intergenic non-coding RNA (GAPLINC), plays a crucial role in tumor biology. GAPLINC interacts with microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins to control important oncogenic pathways, including cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA). GAPLINC's potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target is highlighted by its dysregulated expression in cancer tissues, which is associated with poor prognosis and enhanced disease aggressiveness. This review focuses on the interactions of GAPLINC with miRNAs, RNA-binding proteins, and key signaling pathways, and it investigates the molecular routes through which it shapes tumor cell biology. Moreover, GAPLINC's participation in EMT and cancer stem cell control emphasizes its importance in carcinogenesis, disease development, and therapy resistance. GAPLINC has great promise for individualized cancer treatment, given its several functions in the disease. Future studies should seek to confirm GAPLINC's clinical relevance, look at its therapeutic potential, and create focused RNA-based inhibitory techniques. Such initiatives might open the path for better patient outcomes for a variety of cancer types and more efficient therapies.