Transcriptional and post-transcriptional convergence of HES1 and IGF2BP2 sustains CSF2-dependent metabolic adaptability in gastric Cancer.

This study delineates a hierarchical signaling axis driving gastric cancer (GC) progression through integrated transcriptomic and functional analyses. Single-cell sequencing and TCGA data identified CSF2 as a key oncogene, with elevated expression correlating with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, the transcription factor HES1 directly activates IGF2BP2 transcription, as confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays. IGF2BP2 subsequently stabilizes CSF2 mRNA via N6-methyladenosine (mA) modification, validated through RNA immunoprecipitation and mRNA decay kinetics. Functional interrogation revealed that the HES1-IGF2BP2-CSF2 axis promotes GC cell growth, motility, and infiltrative capacity while inhibiting apoptosis. Critically, this axis orchestrates glycolytic reprogramming, evidenced by upregulated HK2/PKM2/LDHA expression, increased lactate/ATP production, and enhanced glycolytic flux. In vivo xenografts demonstrated accelerated tumor growth upon axis activation, with immunohistochemistry showing elevated Ki67 and reduced apoptosis. These results establish a novel signaling cascade wherein HES1 transcriptionally integrates IGF2BP2-mediated mA epitranscriptomics and metabolic rewiring to fuel GC aggressiveness.