Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) for the chemo-therapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: It was an opened and non-randomized controlled clinical study. When the platelet counts was under 75 × 109 /L after chemotherapy, rhIL-11 was administered 25 μg/(kg?d) as a daily SC injection last for 7-14 days, or discontinued when platelet counts ≥ 100 × 109 /L. Results: Seventy-six patients were enrolled into this study. The treatment group and the control group had thirty-eight cases, respectively. The mean recovery time to PLT ≥ 100 × 109 /L was 8.1 days in treatment group, while in control group was 12.2 days (P < 0.01). Moreover, the mean recovery time from PLT ≤ 50 × 109 /L to ≥ 100 × 109 /L was 8.9 days in treatment group, while in control group was 12.9 days (P < 0.05). There was a statistical difference between the two groups. Major side effects included edema, fever, articular muscle soreness, but they were all mild and well tolerable. Conclusion: rhIL-11 can be safely and effectively used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) for the chemo-therapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: It was an opened and non-randomized controlled clinical study. When the platelet counts were under 75 × 109 / L after chemotherapy, rhIL-11 was administered 25 μg / (kg · d) as a daily SC injection last for 7-14 days, or discontinued when platelet counts ≥ 100 × 109 / L. Results: Seventy-six patients were enrolled into this study. The treatment group and the control group had thirty-eight cases, respectively. The mean recovery time to PLT ≥ 100 × 109 / L was 8.1 days in treatment group, while in control group was 12.2 days (P <0.01). Moreover, the mean recovery time from PLT ≤ 50 × 109 / L to ≥ 100 × 109 / L was 8.9 days in treatment group, while in control group was 12.9 days a statistical difference between the two groups. Major side effects included edema, fever, artic ular muscle soreness, but they were all mild and well tolerable. Conclusion: rhIL-11 can be safely and effectively used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.