Additionally, ITGA7 increases the percentage of CD44+CD133+ cells, and this may be due to that ITGA7 activates stemness properties via FAK/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway, hence raises the percentage of CD44+CD133+ cells.24, 25 However, this needs further validation in NSCLC cell lines.24, 25 The in vitro data implied the oncogenic role of ITGA7 in NSCLC cells and supported our clinical findings in NSCLC patients. This evidence concerns the gene CD44 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.