Chengguo Zhang

Research Progress of RAD51AP1 in Malignant Tumors of the Female Reproductive System

ABSTRACT Genomic instability may contribute to the occurrence and progression of malignant tumors of the female reproductive system. Homologous recombination repair (HRR) is vital in maintaining cellular genomic stability. RAD51‐associated protein 1 (RAD51AP1) plays a vital role in HRR, mainly participating in the formation of displacement loop (D‐loop), and is an important molecule for maintaining cellular genomic stability. Recent studies showed that RAD51AP1 was significantly overexpressed in a variety of cancer types and correlated with prognosis, suggesting that it may have a significant pro‐carcinogenic effect. However, the mechanism underlying its pro‐carcinogenic effect remains unclear, which may be closely associated with cancer stemness. Meanwhile, RAD51AP1 also plays an important role in resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Exploring RAD51AP1 and its regulatory molecules may provide new targets for overcoming cancer progression and treatment resistance. Here, we reviewed the latest research on RAD51AP1 in female reproductive system tumors and summarized its differential expression and prognostic implications. In this review, we also outlined the potential mechanisms of its procancer and drug resistance‐promoting effects to provide several potential directions for further research.