Abstract:Objective: To investigate the relations of the E-cadherin and Slug expression in gastric cancer tissues with the pathologic features of the tumor and prognosis in patients. Methods: The E-cadherin and Slug expression in the cancer tissues from 82 gastric cancer patients were measured by immunohistochemical staining, and the relationships between their expressions and the pathologic features as well as survival of the patients were analyzed. Results: Of the patients, E-cadherin expression was preserved in 47.6%, and Slug was positive in 39.0%. Differential expression of E-cadherin was associated with N classification of the patients, and the difference in Slug positive expression rate was relevant to the gender, and N and M classification (all P<0.05). In group of patients with preserved E-cadherin expression, Slug expression was related to N and M classification, venous invasion, hematogenous metastasis and peritoneal recurrence, while in group of patients with reduced E-cadherin expression, Slug expression was connected with T classification (all P<0.05). The 5-year survival rate in patients with preserved E-cadherin expression was higher than that in patients with reduced E-cadherin expression (79.5% vs. 60.5%), and in patients with positive Slug expression was lower than that in those with negative Slug expression (59.4% vs. 74.0%) (both P<0.05). In E-cadherin expression preserved group, the 5-year survival rate in patients with Slug positive expression was lower than that in patients with Slug negative expression (48.4% vs. 87.5%) (P<0.05), which in E-cadherin expression reduced group showed no difference (58.3% vs. 68.4%) (P>0.05). Conclusion: Both E-cadherin and Slug expressions in gastric cancer tissue are mainly related to the TNM classification of the tumor, and the Slug positive expression may predict a poor outcomes in patients with preserved E-cadherin expression.