Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) remains a prevalent and aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to identify diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers while exploring their potential functions in GC. A total of 598 upregulated and 506 downregulated genes were identified in GC patients. Among these, survival-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including ADAMTS12, F5, and VCAN, were highlighted. Pan-cancer analyses revealed their dysregulation across multiple tumor types. A novel prognostic signature, incorporating ADAMTS12 and F5, effectively stratified GC patients into low- and high-risk groups, demonstrating significant differences in overall survival and robust predictive performance. ADAMTS12, strongly associated with advanced clinical stages and poor prognosis, was validated in an independent cohort and exhibited promising diagnostic potential. RT-PCR and western blot analyses confirmed its high expression in GC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays further demonstrated that ADAMTS12 promotes GC cell proliferation and invasion. In summary, this study provides critical insights into the molecular landscape of GC, offering a potential prognostic tool and therapeutic target.