Background and purpose: RASSF10 acts as a kind of tumor suppressor in various tumor tissues

but researches in cardiac adenocarcinoma has not been reported. This study aimed to detect the methylation status and expression of Ras-association domain family 10 (RASSF10) in gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA)

and explore its role in occurrence and development of GCA. Methods: Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP)

reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry method were respectively used to detect methylation status

mRNA expression and protein expression of RASSF10 in 81 GCA tissues and corresponding normal tissues.Results: The promoter methylation frequency of RASSF10 in GCA tissues (64.20%

52/81) was significantly higher than that in corresponding normal tissues (20.99%

17/81

P0.05)

and was closely correlated with TNM stages

differential degree and lymph node metastasis (P0.05). RASSF10 mRNA expression in GCA tissues (0.57±0.05) was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal tissues (0.78±0.02

P0.05)

and was closely correlated with TNM stages and lymph node metastasis (P0.05). Protein expression of RASSF10 in GCA tissues (31.10%

26/81) was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal tissues (71.60%

58/81

P0.05)

and was closely correlated with TNM stages

differential degree and lymph node metastasis (P0.05). The promoter methylation frequency of RASSF10 in GCA tissues was inversely related to its protein expression.Conclusion: Inactivation of RASSF10 caused by aberrant methylation in the promoter region may be closely correlated with the GCA tumorgenesis.