Highlights
– A distinct PDE5A+ CAF subpopulation is associated with shorter overall survival and an immune‑excluded tumour microenvironment (TME) in gastric cancer (GC).
– PDE5A+ CAFs promote ECM remodelling and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling to secrete CXCL12, recruiting CXCR4+ LAG3+ exhausted CD8 T cells.
