Rad51 at the Crossroads: Bridging DNA Repair, Tumorigenesis, and Immune Regulation

ABSTRACT Rad51 is a pivotal DNA repair protein that plays a central role in homologous recombination repair. Its significance in tumorigenesis and cancer treatment resistance has garnered increasing attention. In recent years, studies have shown that Rad51 not only plays an important role in the biological characteristics of tumor cells but is also closely related to tumor immunity. The complexity of the tumor immune microenvironment makes the action mechanism of Rad51 more complex and affects the immune system's ability to recognize and clear tumors by influencing the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells. Although preliminary studies have suggested a potential role of Rad51 in tumor immunity, the underlying molecular mechanisms require further elucidation. Furthermore, the research on Rad51 as a therapeutic target is also continuously deepening, indicating its application potential in tumor treatment. In summary, this review aims to comprehensively analyze the role of Rad51 in tumor immunity and its challenges and opportunities in future tumor treatment research and clinical application in order to provide new ideas for clinical tumor immunotherapy. However, the current understanding of Rad51's immunomodulatory functions remains incomplete, and further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to validate its therapeutic potential, address potential off‐target effects, and elucidate tumor‐type‐specific mechanisms and microenvironmental interactions.