CD44 and neoplasm: CD44 is critical for EMT and cancer development.31, 32 CD44 has also been identified as a cancer stem cell marker.33 CD44 expression is elevated in gastric cancer and is positively correlated with tumour stage and tumour metastasis, serving as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer.34, 35 While both SALL4 and CD44 play important roles in gastric cancer, the connection between them has not been investigated.