ObjectiveTo investigate the expression characteristics of Caspase-8 in gastric carcinoma tissues and its correlation with clinical pathological features.Methods The mRNA and protein of Caspase-8 in gastric carcinoma and its surrounding tissues were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry,respectively.ResultsThe Caspase-8 mRNA in gastric carcinoma tissues was obviously lower than that in its surrounding ones (0.154±0.065 vs 0.394±0.107,t =14.04,P ＜0.01),which was correlated with lymph node metastasis,tumor stage,differentiation grade (P＜0.01).The Caspase-8 protein in gastric carcinoma tissues was also significantly lower than that in its surrounding ones (31.48％ vs 85.19％,x2 =32.04,P ＜ 0.01),which was correlated with tumor stage,differentiation grade (P＜0.05).ConclusionsCaspase-8 is low-expressed in gastric carcinoma,which may play an important role in the occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma.