RPL32: From housekeeping gene to potential biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer and multiple system diseases.

Ribosomal protein L32 (RPL32) is a core component of the 60S ribosomal subunit and a stable reference gene. Mounting evidence shows that RPL32 is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and other malignancies, correlating with poor prognosis. RPL32 promotes cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and progression partly through the MDM2-p53-autophagy axis, and its expression is regulated by promoter methylation, copy number variations, and transcription factors. RPL32 represents a promising prognostic biomarker and candidate intervention target for cancer. However, its clinical translation requires further validation regarding intervention efficacy, systemic toxicity, druggability, and companion diagnostics. This narrative review summarizes the structure, function, and regulatory mechanisms of RPL32, emphasizes its oncogenic roles and translational potential in cancer, and briefly describes its pathological implications in non-cancer diseases, providing a framework for future cancer research.