Objective To explore the expressions of E-cadherin， matrix metalloproteinases-2 （MMP-2） protein，and matrix metalloproteinases-9 （MMP-9） protein in gastric cancer tissues， and to analyze the possible statistical relati-onship between the expressions of E-cadherin， MMP-2 protein， and MMP-9 protein， and clinicopathological features ofgastric cancer. Methods The ABC immunohistochemical staining was adopted to examine the expressions of E-cadherin，MMP-2 protein， and MMP-9 protein in 40 paraffin slices of gastric cancer （gastric cancer group）， with the adjacent tissue as the control group （adjacent tissue group）. The positive rates of 3 kinds of protein were compared between the2 groups， in addition， the statistical relationship between the expressions of the 3 kinds of protein and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer was examined respectively by SPSS 19.0 software. Results The expressions of E-cadherin， MMP-2 protein， and MMP-9 protein were all found in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent tissues. In gastric cancer tissue group， the expression of E-cadherin downregulated while the expressions of MMP-2 protein and MMP-9 protein upregulated in comparison to adjacent tissue group （P＜0.05）. The significant association was found between the expre-ssion of E-cadherin and the gastric cancer tissues of T3＋T4 stage， N1-N3 stage， and Ⅲ＋Ⅳ stage， which had lower positive expression rate （P＜0.05）. The expression of MMP-2 protein in gastric cancer tissues of M1 stage and Ⅲ＋Ⅳstage upregulated （P＜0.05）， and the expression of MMP-9 protein upregulated in gastric cancer tissues of T3＋T4 stage，Ⅲ＋Ⅳ stage， or lowlydifferentiated＋undifferentiated （P＜0.05）. No significant relationship was found in other clinical-pathological features and 3 kinds of protein except aforementioned significant relationship （P＞0.05）. Conclusions In the development progress of gastric cancer， the E-cadherin may get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis， MMP-2 protein may get involved in the mechanism of distant metastasis， and MMP-9 protein may get involved in the mechanism of differentiation and tumor invasion. The examination of those 3 kinds of markers may play an role in the judgment of tumor stage and estimation of prognosis in gastric cancer clinically.