AIM To investigate the expression of annexin II in gastric carcinoma and its role in the metastasis of gastric cancer.METHODS The expression of annexin II in 51 cases of gastric carcinoma and 24 cases of adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between annexin II and clinical features of gastric cancer was analyzed. Annexin II specific si RNA was used to inhibit the expression of annexin II in gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, and the effects of annexin II on the migration and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) were observed.RESULTS The positive rate of annexin II protein was 82.4% in gastric cancer tissues and 37.5% in adjacent tissues. There was significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.01); and the positive expression of annexin II was not related to the sex and age of the patients(P > 0.05). The expression of annexin IIprotein was correlated with tumor size, histological differentiation, TNM stage, Lymph node metastasis and other clinical features were significantly correlated, the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). Inhibition of annexin II expression, gastric cancer HGC-27 cells migration and secretion of MMPs were significantly decreased, the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION Annexin II is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues, annexin II protein expression is related to tumor size, histological differentiation, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and other clinical features were significantly correlated. Annexin II high expression can promote the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer. AIM To investigate the expression of annexin II in gastric carcinoma and its role in the metastasis of gastric cancer. METHODS The expression of annexin II in 51 cases of gastric carcinoma and 24 cases of adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between annexin II and clinical features of gastric cancer was analyzed. Annexin II specific si RNA was used to inhibit the expression of annexin II in gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, and the effects of annexin II on the migration and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were observed. RESULTS The positive rate of annexin II protein was 82.4% in gastric cancer tissues and 37.5% in adjacent tissues. There was significant difference between the two groups (P <0.01); and the positive expression of annexin II was not related to the sex and age of the patients (P> 0.05). The expression of annexin II protein was correlated with tumor size, histological differentiation, TNM stage, Lymph node metastasis and other clinic Inhibition of annexin II expression, gastric cancer HGC-27 cells migration and secretion of MMPs were significantly decreased, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05) .CONCLUSION Annexin II is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues, annexin II protein expression is related to tumor size, histological differentiation, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and other clinical features were significantly correlated. Annexin II high expression can promote the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer .