CDCA7 and gastric cancer: Functionally, <i>HELLS</i> overexpression also partially reverses the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of <i>CDCA7</i> knockdown.<h4>Conclusion</h4><i>CDCA7</i> promotes GC progression by interacting with <i>HELLS</i> to regulate DNA methylation and chromatin stability, suggesting that the <i>CDCA7</i>-<i>HELLS</i> axis may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.