ULK1 and gastric cancer: Research has found that 18β-GRA can activate the miR-345-5p/TGM2 (tissue transglutaminase 2) signaling pathway, regulate the expression of autophagy markers (ULK1, p62, LC3I/II), increase autophagic flux, ultimately inhibiting tumor cell viability, promoting apoptosis in GC cells and blocking their proliferation (Li et al., 2023b).