Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of Runx3 gene expression in the primary tumor on survival of patients with stomach carcinoma. MethodsSemiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression level of Runx3 mRNA in paired samples of primary gastric cancer and corresponding non-tumorous gastric mucosa, from 108 gastric cancer patiens. Patients were following up more than five years after radical gastrectomy. ResultsThe Runx3 mRNA was lower in the primary tumor than that in non-tumorous gastric mucosa(0.33±0.12 vs. 0.65±0.21,P<0.01).Runx3 mRNA levels(0.403)in primary tumors as a baseline 108 cases were separated into the low-expressing group (≤0.403)and high-expressing group(＞0.403).Comparing analysis found that the low-expression of Runx3 mRNA in the primary tumor was not only associated with the poor clinicopathological factors such as deep infiltration, distant organ metastasis, poorly differentiation, lymph metastasis and later clinicopathological stages, but also with the shorter median survival time(P＜0.05~0.001). ConclusionThere was a significant correlation between low-expression of Runx3 gene in the primary tumor and invasion and poor prognosis of stomach carcinoma.