Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of gastric cancer family history in the gastric cancer (GC) patients. Methods: Gastric cancer family histories within second degree relatives and clinicopathological features were obtained for 497 patients. Results:Of the 497 probands,235 probands were incorporated into familial gastric cancer (FGC) group (there were at least two GC members in the family); 262 probands were included in the non-FGC group (relatives only affected with non-GCs). Of 614 tumors in relatives,GC was the most frequent,followed by lung cancer,esophageal cancer,hepatocellular cancer,colorectal cancer,urogenital cancer,breast cancer,and pancreatic cancer. Most affected members aggregated within first-degree relatives. The ratio of males to females in affected first-degree relatives was usually higher in male probands. Paternal history of GC was a strong risk for GC in males,while risk of GC by maternal history of GCs was increased in females. Difference in tumor histological types between the two groups was derived from an excess of diffuse GC in non-FGC male probands. The lower site was the most frequent tumor location in all subgroups. Conclusion:Distribution of associated non-GCs in a family history of GC may vary with geographic areas. GC may have different genetic and/or environmental etiology in different families,and a certain subtype may be inherited in a male-influenced fashion. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of gastric cancer family history in the gastric cancer (GC) patients. Methods: Gastric cancer family histories within second degree relatives and clinicopathological features were obtained for 497 patients. Results: Of the 497 probands, 235 probands were incorporated into familial gastric cancer (FGC) group (there were at least two GC members in the family); 262 probands were included in the non-FGC group (relatives only affected with non-GCs). Of 614 tumors in relatives, GC was the most frequent, followed by lung cancer, esophageal cancer, hepatocellular cancer, colorectal cancer, urogenital cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Most affected members aggregated within first-degree relatives. The ratio of males to females in affected first-degree relatives was usually higher in male probands. Paternal history of GC was a strong risk for GC in males, while risk of GC by maternal history of GCs was increased in females. Differe nce in tumor histological types between the two groups was derived from an excess of diffuse GC in non-FGC male probands. The lower site was the most frequent tumor location in all subgroups. Conclusion: Distribution of associated non-GCs in a family history of GC may vary with geographic areas. GC may have different genetic and / or environmental etiology in different families, and a certain subtype may be inherited in a male-influenced fashion.