EGF and gastric cancer: Rescue experiments demonstrated that U0126 phenocopied HL-RG effects, while EGF significantly reversed HL-RG-induced functional changes and p-ERK reduction, confirming that HL-RG acts through the MAPK/ERK pathway.<h4>Conclusions</h4>HL-RG exerts anti-GC effects by targeting the MAPK pathway and its hub genes, providing a scientific basis for its clinical application.