Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing docetaxel in treatment of advanced gastric cancer. Methods: The relevant literature was collected by searching several national and international databases. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected. After data extraction and the quality assessment, Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: A total of 10 RCTs was included involving 845 patients. Results of Meta-analysis for overall group showed that in study group (undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing docetaxel combined with surgery) compared with control group (undergoing surgery only or neoadjuvant chemotherapy without docetaxel combined with surgery), the R0 resection rate (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.28–2.81, P=0.001) and overall response rate (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.05–3.51, P=0.03) were significantly increased, while no statistical difference was noted in surgical resection rate (OR=1.59, 95% CI=0.93–2.73, P=0.09) and incidence of postoperative complications (OR=1.01, 95% CI=0.65–1.59, P=0.95); results of subgroup analysis showed that the R0 resection rate had no statistical difference between patients undergoing preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing docetaxel and those undergoing preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy without docetaxel (P>0.05). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing docetaxel can improve the radical resection rate and overall response rate without increase of complications, so it has better efficacy and safety.