ESRP1 exerts anti-tumor role by promoting ferroptosis in diffuse-type gastric cancer
PMCID: PMC12175430
PMID: 40528239
DOI: 10.1186/s13046-025-03435-2
Journal: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR
Publication Date: 2025-6-18
Authors: Xu K, Chen H, Zhu X, Li H, Liu X, et al.
Key Points
- High ESRP1 expression is an independent prognostic factor for improved survival in diffuse-type gastric cancer
- Multivariate analysis showed ESRP1 high expression associated with favorable overall survival (HR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.08–0.62, p = 0.004)
- ESRP1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for personalized DGC intervention through ferroptosis modulation
Summary
This comprehensive study investigated the role of ESRP1 in diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC), revealing its potential as a critical prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Through extensive bioinformatics analysis and experimental models, researchers demonstrated that high ESRP1 expression correlates with improved survival outcomes specifically in DGC patients, distinguishing it from other gastric cancer subtypes.
The research uncovered a novel mechanistic pathway where ESRP1 inhibits DGC progression by interacting with DHCR7 and enhancing ferroptosis susceptibility. In vitro and in vivo experiments consistently showed that ESRP1 overexpression suppresses tumor cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis, while promoting cancer cell death through ferroptosis-related mechanisms. These findings suggest potential personalized treatment strategies, with ferroptosis-inducing therapies recommended for ESRP1-high patients and alternative small-molecule drugs identified for ESRP1-low cases.