DHX32, also known as DEAH-box polypeptide 32, is an RNA helicase. It is involved in numerous RNA-associated biological processes such as ribosome biosynthesis, transcription, mRNA splicing and translation [5].

In cancer research, in liver cancer, its knockdown enhanced the proliferative potential of liver cancer cells, with upregulated phosphorylated levels of ERK, Akt and increased CDK6 level, indicating it may have a proliferation-suppressing property [1]. In breast cancer, increased DHX32 expression was associated with poor prognosis and was an independent prognostic factor for decreased overall and disease-free survival [2]. In colorectal cancer, DHX32 promoted angiogenesis by upregulating VEGFA through interacting with and stabilizing β-catenin, and overexpression of DHX32 contributed to cell growth, metastasis and decreased chemotherapy susceptibility [3,4]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, high DHX32 expression was associated with reduced overall survival, and its ectopic expression induced EMT, promoted cell mobility, proliferation and tumour growth, while silencing reversed these effects via the β-catenin pathway [6].

In conclusion, DHX32 is an important RNA helicase with key functions in RNA-related biological processes. Research on DHX32, especially through loss-of-function experiments in cancer cells, reveals its significant role in cancer progression, making it a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for various cancers such as liver, breast, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma.