Despite significant progress in unraveling the roles of gastrointestinal CAFs, several challenges remain. Identifying reliable biomarkers to distinguish different CAF subsets and developing non-invasive imaging techniques to assess CAF activity in vivo are critical areas of ongoing research. Moreover, understanding the crosstalk between CAFs and other components of the tumor microenvironment will provide a more holistic view of their functions. Gastrointestinal CAFs, once considered simple bystanders, have emerged as dynamic orchestrators of the tumor microenvironment, influencing cancer progression and therapeutic responses. The evolving functions of CAFs underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of their roles at different stages of gastrointestinal cancer. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing CAF behavior and harnessing this knowledge for targeted therapeutic interventions represent exciting avenues for advancing precision medicine in gastrointestinal cancer treatment. As research progresses, a deeper understanding of CAF heterogeneity and plasticity will guide the development of innovative strategies aimed at disrupting their pro-tumorigenic functions, ultimately improving patient outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer.