To investigatethe relationship between p38 MAPK pathway and multidrug resistance of stomach cancer. The activity of p38 MAP kinase in stomach cancer cell SGC7901 and multidrug resistant cell SGC7901/VCR were examined by immunoprecipition after adriamycin treatment SGC7901 for 0, 2, 15, 30 and SGC7901/VCR for 0, 2, 15, 30, 60 minutes,respectively. The results indicated that adriamycin could activate the activity of p38 MAP kinase in gastric cancer cell SGC7901 with time dependency, but could decrease remarkably the activity of p38 MAP kinase in gastric cancer multidrug resistant cell SGC7901/VCR after adriamycin treatment it for 15 minutes. It suggested that adriamycin could affect the activity of p38 MAPK in gastric cancer cell SGC7901 and multidrug resistant cell SGC7901/VCR.