HECW1-mediated ubiquitination of HIPK2 drives metastasis in gastric cancer through the AKT signaling pathway

E3 ubiquitin ligases, crucial enzymes in the ubiquitination pathway, significantly influence the development of malignant tumors, including gastric cancer (GC), by regulating the stability of oncogenic and tumor-suppressive proteins. This study employed bioinformatics analysis of public databases alongside various experimental techniques—tissue arrays, qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and co-immunoprecipitation—to identify and explore the role of HECW1, a pivotal NEDD4 family E3 ubiquitin ligase, in GC progression. Results demonstrated that HECW1 is markedly overexpressed in GC tissues relative to normal gastric tissues, and its elevated expression correlates with poor prognosis in GC patients. In vitro experiments revealed that HECW1 overexpression significantly enhances the metastatic capabilities of GC cells. Mechanistically, HECW1 interacts with HIPK2 to facilitate its ubiquitination and degradation, thereby activating AKT and promoting the expression of downstream epithelial mesenchymal transition related genes. In vivo experiments confirmed HECW1’s role in promoting GC cell metastasis, highlighting the HECW1-HIPK2-AKT signaling axis as critical in GC metastasis. These findings not only elucidate a novel metastasis mechanism of GC but also suggest potential molecular targets for developing new therapeutic strategies against GC.