ASCL2 and neoplasm: Furthermore, the lower halves of GA glands, which harbor most of the Lgr5+ cells, specifically coexpress intestinal stem cell markers such as EPHB2, OLFM4, and ASCL2, as well as CD133, thus supporting the hypothesis that LGR5 is a tumor stem cell marker during the early stage of intestinal-type gastric tumorigenesis.