Pabpc1, short for poly A-binding protein cytoplasmic 1, is a highly conserved multifunctional RNA-binding protein. It is a central regulator of cytoplasmic mRNA homing, primarily involved in the regulation of mRNA translation and stability, and is implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes by influencing almost every aspect of RNA metabolism [1].

In cancer research, Pabpc1 has been shown to be aberrantly expressed in multiple tumor tissues such as lung, gastric, breast, liver, esophageal, pancreatic, and bladder cancers [1,2,3,5]. For example, in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, USP10 deubiquitinates Pabpc1, which then upregulates CLK2 translation to promote tumor progression [2]. In bladder cancer, the circPTK2/Pabpc1/SETDB1 axis promotes EMT-mediated tumor metastasis and gemcitabine resistance [3]. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, Pabpc1 stabilizes IFI27 mRNA, promoting angiogenesis and malignant progression [4]. In pancreatic adenocarcinoma, Pabpc1 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating COL12A1 expression [5]. However, in gliomas, Pabpc1 was downregulated in tumors with higher malignance, and higher expression was related to better prognosis [7]. Also, Pabpc1 may serve as a biomarker for predicting and diagnosing atherosclerosis and pan-cancer events [6]. In addition, Pabpc1 mediates the degradation of C9orf72-FTLD/ALS GGGGCC repeat RNA, potentially alleviating related diseases [8].

In conclusion, Pabpc1 is crucial for mRNA-related functions. Its abnormal expression and function are closely associated with tumorigenesis and other diseases. The study of Pabpc1 in various disease models, especially in cancer, helps to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms, providing potential directions for diagnosis, treatment, and biomarker discovery.