AIM: To investigate the significance and changes of p14 ARF gene in gastric cancer.METHODS: The tumors and gastric tissues neighboring carcinoma from 48 patients with gastric cancer were studied. The homozygous deletions, mutations, methylation of the CpG islands, and mRNA expression of p14 ARF gene were assessed by PCR, PCR-SSCP, PCR based methylation assay, and RT-PCR.RESULTS: ①The homozygous deletion rate of p14 ARF was 31 3% (15/48), and no homozygous deletions were examined in all the gastric tissues neighboring tumor. ②There were no point mutations of p14 ARF in 33 gastric cancers without homozygous deletion and in the matched gastric tissues adjacent to tumor. ③Methylation rate of the CpG islands of p14 ARF was significantly higher in gastric cancers(47.9%, 23/48) than that in gastric tissues neighboring cancer (4.2%, 2/48)( P