CD103, also known as integrin αEβ7 (ITGAE), is a transmembrane heterodimer complex that mediates cell adhesion, migration and homing of lymphocytes through binding to E-cadherin on the surface of epithelial cells.15 Recently, several studies have reported that CD103+CD8+ T cells might represent a subset of activated tumour-reactive CD8+ T cells and predict better prognosis in a series of malignancies.16–18 However, the clinical significance and precise phenotypic features of intratumoural CD103+CD8+ T cells in gastric cancer have never been reported before. The gene discussed is ITGAE; the disease is gastric cancer.