For example, lncRNAs (e.g. HIF1A-AS2, GCMA and HOTAIR) and circRNAs (e.g. circ-RanGAP1, TMEM87A, circLMTK2 and circTMC5) implicated in GC metastasis by acting as ceRNAs, hold promise as potential therapeutic targets for GC patients (29–35). Here, HIF1A is linked to gastric cancer.