Increased METase promoted gastric cancer cell apoptosis by upregulating the expression of SNHG5. Upregulated SNHG5 reduced MIR20A and led to the overexpression of the apoptosis proteins BECN1, ATG5, ATG7 resulting in increased proportion of LC3‐II/LC3‐I.68 Additionally, SNHG5 could sponge MIR32, and MIR32 could reduce the migration and proliferation effects of SNHG5 on gastric cancer cells. The gene discussed is ATG7; the disease is gastric cancer.