METHODS U133A (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect the gene expression profile difference in T and C. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the detected results.

RESULTS When gastric cancers were compared with normal gastric mucosa, a total of 270 genes were found with a difference of more than 9 times in expression levels. Of the 270 genes, 157 were up-regulated (Signal Log Ratio [SLR] ⩾3), and 113 were down-regulated (SLR ⩽−3). Using a classification of function, the highest number of gene expression differences related to enzymes and their regulatory genes (67, 24.8%), followed by signal-transduction genes (43,15.9%). The third were nucleic acid binding genes (17, 6.3%), fourth were transporter genes (15, 5.5%) and fifth were protein binding genes (12, 4.4%). In addition there were 50 genes of unknown function, accounting for 18.5%. The five above mentioned groups made up 56.9% of the total gene number.

CONCLUSION The 5 gene groups (enzymes and their regulatory proteins, signal transduction proteins, nucleic acid binding proteins, transporter and protein binding) were abnormally expressed and are important genes for further study in gastric cancers.