ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and clinical significance of KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin in gastric cardia carcinoma and the correlation between the two proteins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin in 80 patients with gastric cardia carcinoma and 20 patients with normal gastric cardia epithelium was detected by immunohistochemical technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of KiSS- 1 was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis and clinical stage (P < 0.05), but not correlated with the cancer differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of E- cadherin was negatively correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical stage, and cancer differentiation (P < 0.05). Spearman test showed a positive correlation between KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin expression (r(s)=0.722, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>KiSS- 1 and E- cadherin may play important roles in inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of gastric cardia carcinoma.</p>