Abstract: Objective: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) and carcino embryonic antigen(CEA) in patients with gastric carcinoma.Methods: Bioptic and resectic specimens were examined by S-P immunohistochemical method for MMP-2;the content of serum CEA was detected by immunoradicmetricassay,and their relations with the differentiation degree of gastric carcinoma,TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,pancreas metastasis,degree of peritoneum and vascular system invovlement were analyzed.Results: Expression of CEA was positively related to the lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis and peritoneum metastasis(P<0.01-P<0.005),but was not related to the differentiation of gastric carcinoma,pancreas metastasis,vascular system metastasis or TNM stage(P>0.05).Expression of MMP-2 protein was positively related to the lymph node metastasis,liver metastasis,pancreas metastasis,vascular system metastasis and peritoneum metastasis(P<0.005),but was not related to the differentiation degree of gastric carcinoma or TNM stage(P>0.05).Conclusions: CEA and MMP-2 may play an important role in the formation,invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.Expression of them might serve as an objective indicator for estimating tumor pregress and predicting the metastasis of cancer cells.