ULK1 and gastric cancer: Gastric cancer cells possess mechanisms to resist iron-induced cell death caused by excessive iron ions through signaling pathways involving ALOX15, Wnt/β-catenin, MAT2A-ACSL3, etc. Excessive copper ions in gastric cancer cells increase ROS production and activate pathways such as MAPK, ERK1/2, ULK1/2, promoting tumor progression.