TACO1 facilitates the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells via Notch1/Hes1 signaling and is associated with immune cell infiltration

Translational activator of cytochrome c oxidase 1 (TACO1) is a mitochondrial RNA-binding protein playing a fundamental role in mitochondrial translation. However, no studies to date have evaluated changes in the expression, biological functions, and potential molecular mechanisms of action of TACO1 in gastric cancer. Therefore, we investigated the clinical significance, biological function, and immune system modulation associated with TACO1 in gastric cancer. We found that TACO1 expression was upregulated in gastric cancer and associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, TACO1 facilitated gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration through modulation of the Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathways. Moreover, the change in TACO1 expression affected multiple immunological components to regulate the generation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). In conclusion, we first report on the role of TACO1 in gastric cancer, with findings suggesting that TACO1 could represent a promising prognostic and immunological biomarker for gastric cancer.