Our study identified 12 driver genes (PLA2G7, CXCL1, CXCL6, CHI3L1, SPP1, MMP12, TREM1, MMP7, CXCL5, IDO1, CCL20, KRT23) that contribute to carcinogenesis during the progression of chronic gastritis-to-cancer transformation. Here, CHI3L1 is linked to cancer.