In conclusion, the present study identifies the EGR4 + GC cell subpopulation as a critical driver of GC metastasis and elucidates the molecular mechanisms by which the EGR4/GDF15 axis promotes GC metastasis through the activation of the ErbB3/ErbB1 signaling and eCAF-mediated ECM remodeling. Here, ERBB3 is linked to gastric cancer.