Objective: To study the changes of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) expressions and fibrinolysis molecular markers in patients with gastrointestinal cancer in order to elucidate their clinical significance. Methods: The plasma levels of t-PA, u-PA, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) and plasmin anti-plasmin complex (PAP) were measured by ELISA. t-PA and u-PA mRNAs were detected by Real-time RT-PCR. Results: The plasma levels of u-PA, u-PAR and PAP were elevated in gastrointestinal cancer patients, while u-PA was markedly elevated in patients with local infiltration, lymph node involvement or distal metastasis. U-PA mRNA was higher and t-PA was lower in gastrointestinal cancer compared to normal tissue. Conclusion: Hyperfibrinolysis is an important factor related with metastasis potential of gastrointestinal cancer. t-PA may be a character of well differentiated tissue.