Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role for tumor progression in a variety of malignancy. Activated CAFs frequently express α-smooth muscle actin(SMA) and are classified as myofibroblasts. However, the role and significance of CAFs in gastric cancer progression is still unknown. We investigated the biology of CAFs in scirrhous gastric cancers. We examined immmunohistochemical staining of SMA, HGF, galectin-1 and fibroblast activation protein(FAP) in primary sites of scirrhous gastric cancer. Of the 24 scirrhous primary gastric tumors, 21(87.5%) scored positively for SMA. HGF scored positively in 20(83.3%). Galectin-1, which is associated with production of the SMA-positive CAF, scored positively in 7(29.1%). FAP scored positively in 21(87.5%). Interestingly, FAP markedly enhanced cell migration activity in human scirrhous gastric cancer cell lines in vitro. Moreover, the mean concentration of FAP protein was markedly higher in malignant ascitic fluid than nonmalignant peritoneal exudates. Our results suggest that the CAFs in scirrhous gastric cancer consisted of highly SMA, FAP and HGF-expressing fibroblasts.