• A novel prognostic risk model (VILS) based on three vesicle-mediated transport-related genes (SEC23A, RAB31, GABARAPL2) effectively predicts gastric cancer outcomes and correlates with immune infiltration.
• SEC23A is significantly overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues and cells, and its knockdown inhibits cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.
• SEC23A promotes gastric cancer progression by regulating the cell cycle, revealing a novel mechanism and potential therapeutic target.
• The VILS high-risk group exhibits an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment with increased M2 macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts, and decreased Th1 and NK cells.