Overexpression of ALDH1A1 (P < 0.001), larger tumor size (P < 0.001), prominent serosal invasion (P < 0.001) and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the poor OS rate of gastric cancer patients. This evidence concerns the gene ALDH1A1 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.