Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to measure quantitatively the TSP-4 mRNA expression and its significance in gastric carcinoma was evaluated by correlating its expression with clinicopathological features, microvessel density(MVD) and MMP-9.Methods Eighty-two patients with gastric carcinoma were recruited in this study. TSP-4 mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma and adjacent tissue was detected by real-time PCR. CD34 and MMP-9 protein expression were examined by immunohistochemistry. MVD was determined according to CD34-positive tubular structures. Results The expression level of TSP-4mRNA in gastric carcinoma was obviously higher than those of adjacent tissue(EM>P/EM>=0.03) and it was associated with tumor size, histological type, lymph node metastasis, MVD and MMP-9(EM>P/EM>=0.002, P=0.031， EM>P/EM>=0.014,EM>r/EM>＝0.67 EM>P/EM><0.01, EM>P/EM>=0.008),but not sex, age and depth of invasion. （EM>P/EM>=0.53，EM>P/EM>=0.57，EM>P/EM>=0.15）.Conclusion TSP-4 may play an important role in occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma and that the effect of TSP-4 on tumor growth and metastasis may be exerted through reg

Key words: Gastric carcinoma, Thrombospondin-4, Microvessel density, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, Human