AIM: To study the expression of Sonic hedgehog pathway-related molecules, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Glil in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Expression of Shh in 56 gastric specimens including non-cancerous gastric tissues, gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric squamous cell carcinoma was detected by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of Glil was observed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The positive rate of Shh and Glil expression was 0.0%, 0.0% in non-cancerous gastric tissues while it was 66.7%, 57.8% respectively in gastric adenocarcinoma, and 100%, 100% respectively in gastric squamous cell carcinoma. There was a significant difference between the non-cancerous gastric tissues and gastric carcinoma (P<0.05). Elevated expression of Shh and Glil in gastric tubular adenocarcinoma was associated with poorly differentiated tumors while the expression was absent in gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: The elevated expression of Shh and Glil in gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric squamous cell carcinoma shows the involvement of activated Shh signaling in the cellular proliferation of gastric carcinogenesis. It suggests Shh signaling gene may be a new and good target gene for gastric tumor diagnosis and therapy. AIM: To study the expression of Sonic hedgehog pathway-related molecules, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Glil in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: Expression of Shh in 56 gastric specimens including non-cancerous gastric tissues, gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric squamous cell carcinoma was detected by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of Glil was observed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: The positive rate of Shh and Glil expression was 0.0%, 0.0% in non-cancerous gastric tissues while it was 66.7%, 57.8 There was a significant difference between the non-cancerous gastric tissues and gastric carcinoma (P <0.05). Elevated expression of Shh and Glil in gastric tubular adenocarcinoma was associated with poorly differentiated tumors while the expression was absent in gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: The elevated expression of Shh and Glil in gastric adeno carcinoma and gastric squamous cell carcinoma shows the involvement of activated Shh signaling in the cellular proliferation of gastric carcinogenesis. It suggests Shh signaling gene may be a new and good target gene for gastric tumor diagnosis and therapy.