ObjectiveTo review cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs) and its role in the evolution of gastrointestinal neoplasms. MethodDomestic and international publications in relation to CAFs and its role in the evolution of gastrointestinal neoplasms were collected and reviewed. ResultsIn the gastrointestinal cancers, as the largest number and the most important stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment, CAFs induce the homeostasis of cell microenviron-ment out of balance, promote the remodeling of the tumor metabolism and extracellular matrix(ECM), and thus impulse the generation, proliferation, invasion and metastasis of the tumor by secreting different kinds of cytokines. ConclusionsThe key role CAFs playing in the tumor generation and evolution makes themselves and the multiple relatively specific molecules they secrete a new target for prognosis and targeted therapy, and this gives us a new idea for the combined treatment of gastrointestinal tumor or any other tumors.