Abstract: Objective 　To study the expression of human telomerase reverse t ranscriptase (hTRT) and bcl-2 protein and it s relationship to telomerase activity in the carcinogenesis of gast ric cancer. Methods 　hTRT and bcl-2 protein were detected in tissues samples f rom 58 gast ric cancers and matched with normal tissues by immunohistochemical method. Telomerase activity was examined in these samples with PCR-ELISA. Results 　The positive rates of hTRT and telomerase activity were 86. 2 % and 81. 0 % in 58 samples of gast ric cancers respectively, whereas neither hTRT nor telomerase activity was detected in the normal tissues. It was found that bcl-2 protein was positive in 77. 6 % samples of gast ric cancers, which was significant higher than that in normal tissues ( P < 0. 01) . There was a significant correlation between telomerase activity and the expression of hTRT or bcl-2 protein ( P < 0. 05) . Conclusion 　The overexpression of hTRT and bcl-2 protein is closely related to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and may take part in the regulation of telomerase activity. The detection of hTRT may be a useful marker for diagnosis of gastric cancer.