AIM:To investigate integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in gastric carcinoma, and its correlation with microvascular density, growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. METHODS: In situ hybridization (ISH) of integrin β3 mRNA and immunohistochemistry of VEGF and CD34 protein were performed on samples from 118 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: The positive rate of integrin β3 mRNA in non- tumor gastric mucosa (20%) was significantly lower than that of the gastric cancer tissue (52.5%, χ2 = 10.20, P < 0.01). In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of integrin β3 mRNA were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of VEGF protein were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic orperitoneal metastasis, the mean MVD were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P < 0.01), stage T1-T2 (P < 0.01), non-vessel invasion (P < 0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01), respectively. It was found that the positive expression rate of integrin β3 mRNA was positively related to that of VEGF protein (P < 0.01) and MVD (P < 0.05), meanwhile the positive expression rate of VEGF protein was positively related to MVD (P < 0.05). The mean survival period in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≥ 54.9/mm2 was significantly shorter than that in patients with negative expression of integrin β3 mRNA (P < 0.05) and VEGF (P < 0.01), and MVD < 54.9/mm2 (P < 0.01). Five-year survival rate in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≥ 54.9/mm2 was significantly lower than those with negative expression of integrin β3 mRNA (P < 0.05), VEGF (P < 0.05), and MVD < 54.9/mm2 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Integrin β3 and VEGF expression can synergistically enhance tumor angiogenesis, and may play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, they may be prognostic biomarkers and novel molecular therapeutic targets. AIM: To investigate integrin β3 mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in gastric carcinoma, and its correlation with microvascular density, growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis. METHODS: In situ hybridization (ISH) of integrin β3 mRNA and immunohistochemistry of VEGF and CD34 protein were performed on samples from 118 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: The positive rate of integrin β3 mRNA in non- tumor gastric mucosa (20%) was significantly lower than that of the gastric cancer tissue (52.5% , χ2 = 10.20, P <0.01). In patients of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of integrin β3 mRNA were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P <0.01), stage T1-T2 (P <0.01), non-vessel invasion (P <0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P <0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis s of infiltrating type, stage T3-T4, vessel invasion, lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the positive expression rates of VEGF protein were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P <0.01) (P <0.01), non-vessel invasion (P <0.01), without lymphatic metastasis (P <0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis lymphatic metastasis, hepatic or peritoneal metastasis, the mean MVD were significantly higher than those in patients of expanding type (P <0.01), stage T1-T2 (P <0.01), non-vessel invasion It was found that the positive expression rate of integrin β3 mRNA was positively related to that of VEGF protein (P <0.01) and MVD (P <0.05), P <0.01), without hepatic and peritoneal metastasis , meanwhile the positive expression rate of VEGF protein was positively related to MVD(P <0.05). The mean survival period in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≥ 54.9 / mm2 was significantly shorter than that in patients with negative expression of integrin β3 mRNA (P <0.05) and VEGF Five-year survival rate in patients with positive expression of integrin β3 mRNA and VEGF, and MVD ≧ 54.9 / mm2 was significantly lower than those with negative expression of integrin (P <0.01), and MVD <54.9 / mm2 (P <0.05), and MVD <54.9 / mm2 (P <0.01) .Conclusion: Integrin β3 and VEGF expression can synergistically enhance tumor angiogenesis, and may play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis Therefore, they may be prognostic biomarkers and novel molecular therapeutic targets.