NT5E and neoplasm: In advanced gastric cancer (Stage III), the proportion of co-expressing cell clusters increased to 41% (68% co-expression rate validated in the TCGA cohort), correlated with CXCL12 secreted by CAFs, and CD73 was elevated 2.5–3 times compared to normal tissue, driving tumor invasion and metastasis (60); In advanced gastric cancer (Stage IV), co-expressed cells constitute 78% of the tumor microenvironment, forming a “super-stable circuit” that colocalizes with CD73+ myeloid cells.