Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of TFF1， TFF2，TFF3 and to investigate the relationship between TFF1，TFF2，TFF3 and cell proliferation，cell apoptosis in gastric cancer. Methods The expression of TFF1，TFF2，TFF3 and PCNA were measured by immunohistochemical staining (SP) in gastric cancer（40 specimens） and similar normal gastric mucosa（20 specimens），intestinal mataplasia in gastric mucosa（30 specimens）， displasic gastric mucosa （24 specimens），and apoptosis determined by terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling （TUNEL）. Results In similar normal gastric mucosa，intestinal mataplasia mucosa，displasic mucosa and gastric cancer，the levels of TFF1 and TFF2 expression and apoptotic index had a decreasing tendency（P＜0.05, respectively）.By contrast, TFF3 was not detected in similar normal gastric mucosa. The expression level of TFF3 had a increasing tendency in the gastric mucosa of intestinal mataplasia，displasic gastric mucosa and gastric cancer（P＜0.05）. The level of apoptotic index had an increasing tendency from normal gastric mucosa to intestinal mataplasia mucosa, but decreasing tendency from displasic gastric mucosa to gastric cancer. There was a negative correlation between the expression of TFF1 and TFF2 and proliferating index,but a positive corrolation between the expression of TFF1 and TFF2 and apoptotic index in gastric cancer（both P＜0.05）. There was a positive correlation between the expression of TFF3 and proliferating index, and a negative correlation between the TFF3 and apoptotic index in gastric cancer. Conclusion TFF might play various roles in the course of gastric cancer via influencing cell proliferation and apoptosis.